Pro-Palestine Protesters In New Jersey's Rutgers Call Kashmiris 'Occupied People'

As protests across US campuses in support of Palestinians continue, students at Rutgers University presented a list of 10 demands to the administration during demonstrations against the Gaza war. One of these demands referred to Kashmiris an ‘occupied people’.

The ninth demand from the students at Rutgers University in New Brunswick called for the display of flags representing “occupied peoples” on the campus, as per an X post by ‘controversial’ historian and author Audrey Truschke on Friday.

Truschke, also an associate professor of South Asian history at Rutgers University in New Jersey, shared the ten demands made by student protesters at the university on her handle.

“Today, students at Rutgers-New Brunswick compelled our administration to make substantial headway on eight of their ten demands. Lessons— Protest works,” Truschke wrote .

“Display the flags of occupied peoples – including but not limited to Palestinians, Kurds, and Kashmiris – in all areas displaying international flags across the Rutgers campuses,” the ninth demand from the pro-Palestinians protesting students at Rutgers stated.

As per Truschke’s post, the college administrators in response to the demand, stated: “The Office of the Chancellor will take stock of flags that are displayed across RutgersNew Brunswick campus, and ensure appropriate representation of students enrolled in academic and other spaces.”

The protest encampment was dismantled on Thursday after Rutgers administrators and university students reached a deal on their fourth day of the encampment.

“They accepted eight of the 10 [demands] but not the most important, which is divesting, so that’s what we want to do but we also want to respect the campus,” one protester told CBS News.

The ongoing encampment at Rutgers University in support of Palestinians began on Monday. Protesters are demanding that Rutgers terminate its relationship with Tel Aviv University and divest from companies engaged in business with Israel.

The university announced its agreement to review the students’ requests. However, a rally on campus Thursday morning prompted the administration to take the unprecedented step of postponing final exams on campus.

The administration said that 28 scheduled exams were disrupted, impacting over 1,000 students, but assured that they would be rescheduled.

‘Right Balance’ needed: MEA 

Commenting on the protests across the American universities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said there should be a right balance between freedom of expression, a sense of responsibility, and public safety in every democracy.

“Democracies in particular should display this understanding in regard to other fellow democracies. After all, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted.

Jaiswal further stated that no Indian students or their families have contacted the ministry so far for any help.

“Neither the Embassy nor any Consulate has been approached by Indian students or their family seeking assistance regarding any disciplinary action for participation in protests in the universities. We expect all our citizens at home and abroad to respect local laws and regulations,” he added.

Not ‘anti-Semitism’ protest

In the past few weeks, at least 30 universities across the United States have rallied or established tent encampments demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as divestment from Israel and companies associated with the Israeli government and its army. The protests call for colleges and universities to cut financial ties with Israel due to the Israel-Hamas war.

The demonstrations have posed a significant challenge to university administrators trying to balance free speech rights with complaints that the rallies have veered into anti-Semitism and hate.

However, the protesters have denied accusations of anti-Semitism, arguing their actions are only aimed at Israel’s government and its prosecution of the conflict in Gaza.

(With inputs from agencies)

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