In recent events involving heightened campus activism across the United States, two significant occurrences at separate universities have captured attention.

Firstly, at Portland State University in Oregon, a driver in a white Toyota Camry engaged in aggressive behavior towards pro-Palestinian protesters. Identified only recently, the driver reportedly accelerated their vehicle into a group of demonstrators, subsequently deploying what appeared to be pepper spray at the crowd. The incident, which occurred amidst ongoing tensions at the university linked to protests against affiliations with Israeli institutions and companies, escalated quickly as protesters responded by damaging the vehicle. The driver fled but was later detained by police and hospitalized for a mental health evaluation. This incident happened shortly after a related event at the same university where 22 protesters were arrested following the occupation of a library.

Secondly, an incident at the University of Mississippi involved a white student making racially offensive gestures at a Black protester during pro-Palestine demonstrations. Captured on video, the student was seen making monkey noises—a historically racist gesture—towards the Black individual. The video quickly spread on social media, leading to widespread condemnation from both the university and the public. The University of Mississippi has stated that it is investigating the matter and will enforce its policies against such conduct.

These incidents occur against the backdrop of a surge in nationwide protests related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, with over 2,000 arrests made in the past two weeks alone. Both universities are addressing the specific events to manage the unfolding social and racial tensions on their campuses.