U.S. universities see protests and vigils on Oct. 7 anniversary

The third anniversary of the October 7 attacks has triggered a wave of demonstrations and vigils across several American university campuses. At New York University, over 100 students participated in a walkout organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) to protest the university’s response to pro-Palestinian activism and to call for divestment from companies with ties to Israel.

At Georgetown University, students and faculty held a vigil in Red Square, with organizers demanding that the institution divest from companies supporting the Israeli military. Similarly, at Stanford University, SJP and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) hosted a vigil focused on the casualties in Gaza, while Jewish student organizations held a separate memorial to honor the hostages and those killed during the initial October 7 attacks.

In response to the heightened tensions, the Israeli-American Council has urged more than 100 universities, including the Ivy League, to ensure that Jewish and Israeli students can commemorate the day safely and without disruption. The council expressed concern that students should not have to 'negotiate for the ability to mourn.' Meanwhile, reports from organizations like Amnesty International and the ACLU have highlighted debates regarding whether universities are applying disparate disciplinary standards to pro-Palestinian protesters compared to other student groups.