UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee H. Roberts returned the American flag to the top of the flagpole after it was removed by anti-Israel protesters. In a video shared on Twitter, Roberts can be seen raising the flag back up as onlookers cheer “USA! USA! USA!” The protesters had replaced the American flag with a Palestinian flag earlier in the day.
Students from the Turning Point USA chapter at UNC Chapel Hill responded by displaying another American flag in protest of the actions of the pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The situation escalated, leading to clashes between the protesters, law enforcement officials, and the use of pepper spray.
Following the incident, 36 protesters were detained, with 30 cited for trespassing and released on-site. Three students and three others were arrested and charged with trespassing. Similar protests and encampments have been seen at other universities, with demands ranging from divestment from Israeli companies to a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas that sparked the protests began in October 2023, with Hamas launching attacks on Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages. The situation escalated further with a terror attack by Hamas, leading to deaths and atrocities against Israeli civilians.
