Tension is rising on college campuses nationwide over the Israel-Hamas war. Students at the University of North Texas walked out of class Tuesday as part of a pro-Palestinian demonstration. There was concern it could escalate. NBC 5’s Phil Prazan shows what happened.
Students at the University of North Texas walked out of class Tuesday to take part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
The protest was one of many happening at colleges and universities across the country where students asked the institutions to disclose their assets and divest from any ties to Israel or weapons manufacturers.
In Denton, a few hundred students walked out of class and met on the lawn outside the University Library. The local chapter of the Palestine Solidarity Committee planned the event.
"We stand here in solidarity with students at Columbia, students at Yale, students at UT Dallas, students at UT Austin. Students at college campuses all across the nation and really in the world," said Talia Irshad, with the Palestine Solidarity Committee.
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Irshad, a junior, helped coordinate the event which included a protest walk around the administration building and a loop around part of the campus.
“Faculty and staff canceled class and moved around meetings in order to be here today," Irshad said.
One of the demands from the protestors is similar to what we’ve seen at the University of Texas at Austin, is for the university to publicly disclose its assets in its foundation and to cut ties with Israeli assets.”
Their other demands are a public apology from the university and for the school to divest from weapons manufacturers like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, which have large footprints in North Texas.
Classes were not canceled.
UNT staff told NBC 5 they support free speech and peaceful assembly.
"The university recognizes and supports the rights of free speech and protects the rights of freedom of speech, petition and peaceful assembly," wrote Devynn Case, UNT's Director Media Relations, "As part of our learning environment, we encourage our faculty, staff and students to be respectful of each other at all times. It is our priority that our community members feel safe during their educational pursuits at UNT."
There's no word, however, if UNT plans to meet any of the demands.
Jewish students and organizations are critical of the protestors. Administration staff were in communication with the protest organizers and increased security around campus.
No arrests were reported and the protest, which ended by 4 p.m., was peaceful.
