Largely my comment was in the abstract. I knew most of the ones that had been getting attention were about divestment in their university, but I presumed that at least some were students trying to raise awareness over a subject the uni had no power over. And that’s perfectly legitimate! It’s just something that you do have to expect the possibility of an arrest for.

Unfortunately, as I noted, US police are not known for reasonable, proportionate responses.

Aside from the completely disproportionate police response, schools like Columbia don’t really help themselves with how they want to glorify their history of student activism to draw in new students, but turn their backs on those principles once the students are protesting in favor of causes that the school administration decide are the wrong causes.

Uni admins and being bloodsucking hypocritical parasites - name a more iconic duo.