Student Encampments: Protests, Arrests & One Man’s Fight

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There has been a great deal of confusion surrounding the longstanding struggle for Palestinian rights over the years, often stemming from misinformation, lack of knowledge, or dishonesty. This misunderstanding has certainly escalated following Hamas’ attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. To ensure we’re all on the same page, it’s essential to clarify some terms upfront: Supporting Palestine doesn’t equate to supporting Hamas. Criticizing Israel does not imply being an anti-Semite; one can criticize a nation’s actions without attacking its people based on ethnicity or religion. As another example, you could question former President Joe Biden’s policies without denigrating all Americans. Similarly, being a Zionist doesn’t mean you’re Jewish; there may be more Christian Zionists in the world than actual Jews. With these definitions established, let’s discuss the recently released documentary, The Encampments.

Watermelon Pictures maintains its impressive run of political documentaries by releasing “The Encampments“, a film that takes us straight to Columbia University in New York during April 2024. At this time, students had established a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment”, which sparked disapproval from both conservatives and liberals due to the United States’ ongoing bipartisan backing of Israel.

Worldwide, students echoed pro-Palestinian sentiments, following the spotlight on Columbia, with over 200 Gaza Solidarity Camps established globally being the result. This documentary, titled “The Encampments“, delves into this brief wave of genuine protest, its tragic end, and the ongoing effects that persist even today.

Disclose, Divest, Document

Back in October 2023, following the Hamas attacks, our efforts to advocate for justice in Palestine didn’t suddenly pop up; they were the culmination of months of various protests. On my part, I joined Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), urging Columbia University to sell off its shares in companies like General Electric and United Technologies that provide Israel with technology or weapons. In essence, we were asking the university to stop financially supporting businesses involved in such activities.

Among the key figures leading the Columbia protests was Mahmoud Khalil, whose name has been frequently in the headlines lately due to his arrest, disappearance, or deportation without any justifiable reason, solely because of his pro-Palestine views. Khalil is prominently depicted in the film “The Encampments“, where he expresses his concerns about the university’s disconnection from reality at one point in the documentary, saying, “In my discussions, I could sense how detached the university is from reality. It’s hard to imagine any university wanting to invest in weapons manufacturing. Why would you do that? Your focus should be on education. We are effectively returning the university to a moral institution.

Khalil hails from a Palestinian refugee camp located in Southern Damascus, where he spent his childhood; his grandmother made a 40-mile journey to Syria and gave birth during the trip. A diverse group of students, including Palestinians, Muslims, Arabs, Jews (such as Jewish Voices for Peace), and people from various backgrounds take part in protests. However, Zionists and the alt-right have tried to create chaos, even instigating violent incidents like the assault on students at UCLA by masked vigilantes. The police failed to intervene when these attacks occurred, as one student lamented in “The Encampments“.

From the vantage point of Royce Hall, Dean Miguel García-Garibay observed as Zionists physically assaulted students below. It seemed no one was there to intervene on your behalf – not even those who had sworn to do so.

According to the documentary, one student stated that they had confirmed with several members of Congress and the governor, who both asserted it was a hollow threat. However, it appears they were given misinformation, as further actions indeed involved sending the National Guard.

The Aftermath of Mahmoud Khalil and the State of Protest

After everything settled down and the campuses were vacant, it turned out that 3,100 students and staff members had been apprehended by authorities. On March 8, 2025, ICE agents raided Mahmoud Khalil’s home while his eight-month pregnant wife was in tears. Despite being a permanent resident, having no criminal charges against him, and lacking any formal legal proceedings, he was detained for deportation.

numerous diverse organizations, including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union, the California Faculty Association, the First Amendment Coalition, and the Center for Constitutional Rights, have publicly criticized Khalil’s arrest. Notably, both Bill Maher and Ann Coulter, who hold contrasting political views, have also expressed their disapproval of Khalil’s arrest.

The outcome for Khalil is uncertain, giving an eerie edge to the conclusion of The Encampments. He expresses to the camera, “Once the occupation concludes, my immediate action will be returning to Palestine. There’s a dream within me – leaping from the Agdah wall into the sea. Then I plan to keep constructing a nation for all, a nation that welcomes its people regardless, a nation that cherishes every human life. With hope, someday, God willing.

Now showing in cinemas across the country by Watermelon Pictures! For further details, theater locations, and showtime schedules, please click here. Additionally, the movie is being screened at Film at Lincoln Center in New York City. Click here for showtimes and additional information.

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2025-04-07 07:02