Ohio State University – Gaza Protests

Summary

In March 2024, the Israel Hamas conflict intensified divisions and incidents of harassment on the campus of Ohio State University. Vandalism of Israeli flags at Ohio State Hillel, anti-Israel statements and threats shouted outside Hillel, and the reported assault of two Jewish students were among the incidents. University officials said they were investigating and emphasized that discrimination and harassment were not tolerated. As the conflict continued, students organized rallies and counter events related to Gaza, contributing to a highly charged campus atmosphere.

Pro-Palestine demonstrators set up an encampment on the South Oval on April 25, 2024, calling on the university to disclose and divest from investments tied to Israel. The next evening, April 26, Ohio State confirmed that 36 people were arrested when law enforcement cleared the encampment, most of them unaffiliated with the university. Ahead of a planned protest on May 1, the university locked some buildings and restricted access, citing safety concerns. Protesters returned to the South Oval on May 1, less than a week after police arrested dozens, reiterating demands for divestment and transparency. By May 8, 2024, public universities in Ohio stated that divestment as demanded by protesters could not occur because of state law and fiduciary duties governing public funds.

In September 2024, Students for Justice in Palestine hosted a protest condemning the war in Gaza and urging Ohio State to divest from Israeli companies. Speakers criticized university investments and United States support for Israel and called for a ceasefire. The group led a picket of roughly 200 people at the Ohio Union in October 2024, again protesting the war in Gaza and urging divestment. Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and signs and chanted in support of Gaza, while some counter protesters expressed support for Israel. During this period, masked individuals displayed a banner outside Ohio State Hillel calling Israel a genocidal state, and additional incidents near Hillel facilities were reported. The Council of Graduate Students later issued a statement criticizing aspects of the university’s response to the spring 2024 protests, including the use of law enforcement and building closures.

On March 11, 2025, the Ohio chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations said international students should not protest if they feared immigration consequences after the arrest of a Columbia University student.

A federal judge ruled on January 15, 2026, in Christensen v Carter that Ohio State had likely violated the First Amendment rights of a pro Palestine student and granted preliminary injunctive relief. The lawsuit was filed by former student Guy Christensen with representation from the American Civil Liberties Union and challenged disciplinary action taken over his speech. That same month, two students were among three people arrested while protesting a United States Customs and Border Protection booth at an Arts and Sciences career fair. In February 2026, Palestine Legal sent a letter to the university raising concerns about disciplinary measures and protest policies, and the American Civil Liberties Union examined the use of anti mask laws to target pro Palestine protesters within a broader wave of Gaza war related campus demonstrations.