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Campus protests flare on a smaller scale than last spring, but with higher stakes

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Campus protests flare on a smaller scale than last spring, but with higher stakes
News

News

Campus protests flare on a smaller scale than last spring, but with higher stakes

2025-05-13 12:11 Last Updated At:12:30

WASHINGTON (AP) — Campus activism has flared as the academic year winds down, with pro-Palestinian demonstrations leading to arrests at several colleges.

Compared with last spring, when more than 2,100 people were arrested in campus protests nationwide, the demonstrations have been smaller and more scattered.

But the stakes are also much higher. President Donald Trump's administration has been investigating dozens of colleges over their handling of protests, including allegations of antisemitism, and frozen federal grant money as leverage to press demands for new rules on activism.

Colleges, in turn, have been taking a harder line on discipline and enforcement, following new policies adopted to prevent tent encampments of the kind that stayed up for weeks last year on many campuses.

More are pushing for the same goal that drove last year's protests — an end to university ties with Israel or companies that provide weapons or other support to Israel.

Protesters who took over a Columbia University library this month issued demands including divestment from “occupation, apartheid and genocide” and amnesty for students and workers targeted for discipline by the university. About 80 people were arrested at the protest, which also called for police and federal immigration officials to stay off campus.

A protest at the University of Washington days earlier demanded the school end ties with Boeing, a supplier to the Israeli Defense Forces. Activists wanted the school to return any Boeing donations and bar the company’s employees from teaching at the school. Thirty people were arrested.

Other protests have sparked up at schools including Swarthmore College, Rutgers University, the University of California, Los Angeles and Brooklyn College.

The timing of recent protests may owe to developments in the war itself and the approaching end of the school year, said Robert Cohen, a professor of history and social studies at New York University.

Cohen said activists may be energized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's discussion of an escalation of the war, at a time many Palestinians already are at risk of starvation amid an Israeli blockade of food and other goods. “And the fact that it is the end of the semester — maybe it seems like the last chance they have to take a stance, to publicize this,” he said.

Still, he sees the latest flare-up as a return to the kind of protests that campuses occasionally saw even before the Israel-Hamas war. As colleges have imposed stricter rules, many students may be unwilling to risk punishment, he said.

“Essentially, you have a small core of people, and the larger mass movement has been suppressed,” he said of the latest activism. “These are small, scattered protests.”

Colleges navigating protests risk losing federal grants for research if their response runs afoul of the government.

The handling of last year’s protests has been at the center of the Trump administration’s fight with Columbia, Harvard and other universities.

Some schools have had money frozen for what the administration calls a failure to root out campus antisemitism. Federal officials have demanded tougher action against protesters, new limits on protests and other changes aimed at pro-Palestinian activism along with diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

After the University of Washington protest, a federal antisemitism task force said it was launching a review. It applauded quick action from police but said it expected campus leaders to “follow up with enforcement actions and policy changes that are clearly necessary to prevent these uprisings moving forward.”

The stakes are also higher for international students as the federal government moves to deport students with ties to pro-Palestinian activism.

After calling police to clear the library occupied by protesters last week, Columbia University suspended 65 students and barred 33 others from campus.

Columbia’s response drew praise from the Trump administration’s task force, which said it was encouraged by the university’s “strong and resolute statement” condemning the protest.

Even before the latest protest, Columbia had agreed to other changes amid pressure from federal officials, including a ban on face masks used to conceal identities and the hiring of new public safety officers empowered to make arrests on campus.

The University of Washington protest also drew a swift response, with 21 students later suspended.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

FILE - A New York City police officer keeps watch on the campus of Columbia University in New York, Monday, May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

FILE - A New York City police officer keeps watch on the campus of Columbia University in New York, Monday, May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes' record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.

Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.

The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.

If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.

Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year's All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.

Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.

Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.

The New York Yankees' Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried. for Tuesday's game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.

The Kansas City Royals' Estévez replaces Texas' Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

Mize takes the spot held by Boston's Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.

Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.

The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players' ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodriguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”

Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.

Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Los Angeles Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.

San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies' right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Milwaukee Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski reacts during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski reacts during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, June 30, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, June 30, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez celebrates after a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez celebrates after a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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