Indian-origin student Achinthya Sivalingam, born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and raised in Columbus, Ohio, has been arrested and banned from Princeton University in the US. He was arrested due to his participation in an unauthorized student-led pro-Palestine encampment protest within the campus premises.On Thursday morning, student protesters erected tents in the Universitys McCosh Courtyard despite warnings from authorities. Sivalingam and another fellow student, Hassan Sayed, were arrested as a result.The United States of IsraelIndian-origin student Achinthya Sivalingam arrested in US for joining pro-Palestine protests pic.twitter.com/PkW8vikvzM— Mini⁴⁴⁴ (@MINIVK12) April 26, 2024Campus responseConfirming the incident, Princeton University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill stated that the two graduate students were arrested after repeated warnings from the Department of Public Safety. They have been immediately barred from campus, pending a disciplinary process.Protest dynamicsThe protest initially drew around 110 people, which later increased to approximately 300 participants by Thursday afternoon. The remaining tents in the encampment area were voluntarily dismantled by the protesters following the arrests.Max Weiss, an associate professor of history at Princeton University, expressed solidarity with the arrested students, praising their bravery amidst the ongoing violence in Palestine.Organizers and campus policyThe protest was part of a series of demonstrations organized by campus groups, including the Princeton Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), the Princeton Palestine Liberation Coalition, and Princeton Israeli Apartheid Divest (PIAD). Campus regulations prohibit activities like encampments or blockades, and individuals engaging in such actions face disciplinary measures.National contextThe protest at Princeton University mirrors similar demonstrations at other major universities across the US, highlighting widespread support for Palestine amid the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
