Blocks from the White House, US students stand steadfast with Gaza

Palestine solidarity encampment springs up at George Washington University despite crackdown and arrests across US.

Protesters are the encampment at George Washington University's University Yard [Leah Millis/Reuters]

Washington, DC – Chants of “free Palestine” were interrupted by ululating and cheers as dozens of Georgetown University students arrived at a protest at the neighbouring George Washington University (GW) campus in the heart of the US capital city.

Students, professors and activists from across the Washington, DC, area gathered on Thursday to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the war on Gaza and demand an end to what they call their colleges’ complicity in Israel’s human rights abuses.

Students at GW had set up a protest encampment on campus, joining the pro-Palestinian demonstrations sweeping colleges across the country.