What's behind the pro-Palestinian protests at U.S. universities?

STORY: Students clashing with police, tents set up on college campuses, across America, chaos engulfs universities as pro-Palestinian protests spread coast to coast.

Let’s take a look at what is behind these demonstrations.

Protesters at major universities like Columbia, Yale, and University of Southern California, are calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza an end to U.S. military assistance for Israel.

They also want universities to divest assets from Israel and from arms suppliers and other companies profiting from the war in Gaza.

“We have three demands: divest all finances. / 2, provide financial transparency of all investments, and 3, ensure amnesty for all students and faculty arrested, disciplined or fired in connection with the Movement for Palestinian Liberation."

Pro-Palestinian protests have drawn students and faculty of various backgrounds, including those of Jewish and Muslim faiths.

The groups organizing the protests include Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace.

Organizers have widely condemned violence against pro-Israel counter-protesters, but some Jewish students say they have faced anti-Semitic chants.

“When you’re an Israeli student on this campus, you feel like you have a target on your back, you feel unsafe.”

School administrators and local law enforcement have cracked down on the protests.

Hundreds of protesters have been arrested, dozens have been suspended from studies.

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik called in New York Police to clear the encampment saying it violated rules against unauthorized protests.

(Michael Gerber, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of legal matters)

“They asked us to come on the campus to take action, and we did.”

Some universities temporarily canceled in-person classes.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia to meet with Jewish students intimidated by some anti-Israeli demonstrators.

(Mike Johnson, House Speaker)

“My message to the students inside the encampment is go back to class and stop the nonsense.”