It’s ‘America Now’ time, bringing you live American news.
Host) What news is there today?
Reporter) As protests against the Gaza war continued in American college towns, some universities held graduation ceremonies under tight security. They found that former President Donald Trump raised over $76 million in donations last month, significantly surpassing the amount raised in March.
Host) America Now, here is the first news. While American college towns suffered from protests against the Gaza War, graduation ceremonies were held at some universities.
Reporter) That’s right. In the United States, college graduation season begins in earnest in May. Graduation ceremonies were held at some universities last weekend, including the University of Michigan, Northeastern University, Indiana University, and Ohio State University. At these two universities, pro-Palestinian protesters opposing the Gaza war are currently holding sit-ins on their campuses. Although tensions were high, the graduation ceremony ended without any major clashes or arrests.
Host) Would you like to tell us about the graduation ceremonies at each university?
Reporter) Yes, first of all, Northeastern University, located in East Boston, held a graduation ceremony on the 5th in rain at Fenway Park, the home stadium of Boston’s professional baseball team, the Red Sox. At Northeastern University, about 100 people were previously arrested during violent protests against the war in Gaza. In addition, as the graduation ceremony on this day (the 5th) was a large-scale event attended by around 50,000 people, it was held under strict security checks. Some students waved small Palestinian flags, but they appeared to be overshadowed by students waving flags of other countries, including the United States and India. However, an undergraduate speaker drew brief cheers when he called for peace in the Gaza Strip.
Host) Looks like the graduation ceremony went relatively peacefully?
Reporter) Yes, other universities were similar. The graduation ceremony of the University of Michigan was held on the 4th at Michigan Stadium, an American football stadium attended by tens of thousands of people. Seventy-five graduates wearing graduation caps and a kaffiyeh, a traditional black and white checkered scarf from the Arab world, marched down the central aisle in protest. But no one was arrested. There was no significant disruption to the schedule of the graduation ceremony, which lasted approximately two hours. Also, at the Indiana University graduation ceremony, some students walked out while President Pamela Whitten was giving a speech, shouting, “Free Palestine.”
Cynnal) But there are schools where there have been deaths in graduation ceremonies?
Reporter) Yes, Ohio State University held a graduation ceremony at Ohio Stadium on the 5th. The university said one person died after falling from a stand during the graduation ceremony. Police immediately restricted access to the scene and began an investigation. It is not yet known whether the deceased was a student or an outsider, or what caused the accident. A spokesperson for Benjamin Johnson University said in a statement on the 5th that there is no additional information to share.
Cynnal) Are there schools that have canceled major graduation ceremonies due to protests against the Gaza War?
Reporter) Yes, Columbia University in the eastern United States announced that it would cancel the main graduation ceremony scheduled for the 6th and 15th and hold graduation ceremonies for all colleges only. The University of Western California (USC) also canceled the main graduation ceremony scheduled for the 10th. The university sparked controversy by canceling a farewell speech by a Muslim graduate student for security reasons. USC is one of the universities where the Gaza war protests are most intense, with more than 90 students arrested so far.
Host) What is the current situation at USC?
Reporter) The LA police entered the campus by surprise early in the morning on the 5th, dismantled the sit-in tent, and kicked 25 protesters out of the campus. There was no collision during this process. No students were arrested. USC President Carol Folt previously said in a statement that the protesters’ occupation was moving in a dangerous direction and it was time to draw a line. And after the police dispersed the protesters, he said, “The operation was carried out peacefully,” and “The campus is open, students are returning to prepare for final exams, and preparations for the graduation ceremony in full swing.”
Host) So far, demonstrations against the Gaza War have been held at several universities, and many people have been arrested, right?
Reporter) Yes, according to an Associated Press count based on announcements from universities and law enforcement agencies, about 2,500 people have been arrested at more than 50 universities since police arrests began at Columbia University on April 18 .
Host) Were any protesters arrested last weekend?
Reporter) Yes, at the University of Virginia (UVA), the police clashed with protesters who refused to move tents on the 4th. 25 people were arrested on trespassing charges. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares appeared on Fox News on the 5th and continued to warn protesters to leave, adding that the police response was justified because the protesters violated the school’s code of conduct and that outsiders, not students, provides protest supplies to the protesters. He said he did. Also, at the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), police broke up an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters on the 4th and arrested 68 people.
Host) What do the protesters demand?
Reporter) The demands of the protesters vary slightly from school to school, but most demand that the university authorities withdraw their investments in companies linked to Israel. At Princeton University, 18 people began a hunger strike, prompting the school to accept the protesters’ demands.
Hold) As campus protests continue like this, won’t there be a presidential election in the United States in November?
Reporter) That’s right. Therefore, recently President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, who are almost confirmed as presidential candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties, have begun to speak out about the outside of the city. In a speech to the nation last week, President Biden said that he recognizes the freedom of expression of the protesters, but that violent protests cannot be tolerated. Meanwhile, former President Trump claimed on his social media site ‘Truth Social’ on the 5th that President Biden is “the main cause of all these terrible protests.”
Host) Can campus protests affect the results of the presidential election?
Reporter) Yes, there are experts who make that prediction. Professor Michael Troggott, a political scientist at the University of Michigan, pointed out to VOA that former President Trump’s incumbent, President Biden, is responsible for the protests, a ‘political strategy’ for re-election. He also said, “I believe that this protest will generally be advantageous to former President Trump because it goes against the views of the majority of former President Trump’s supporters.” On the other hand, it is predicted that the turnout among young Democratic voters who will support President Biden may decline.
Former US President Donald Trump on the campaign trail (file photo)
Host) America Now, we will continue to look at news related to the presidential election. Former President Donald Trump revealed the donations he raised last month?
Reporter) Yes, former President Trump’s team announced on the 4th that former President Trump’s election campaign and the Republican National Committee (RNC) raised a total of $76.2 million in April. This is significantly higher than the $65.6 million in donations received in March, the previous month.
Host) Is there anything that catches your eye about the current state of fundraising for the election?
Reporter) Yes, it is clear that the number of small donors has increased. “Half of all donations last month came from small donors,” the Trump campaign said in a statement, adding, “It’s clear that our base is energized.” “The Republican Party is united and voters across the country are ready to fire Joe Biden and elect Donald Trump,” he said.
Host) Did President Biden also release details of last month’s donations?
Reporter) It has not been made public yet. However, President Biden has continued to lead former President Trump in fundraising. Last March, President Biden raised $25 million in one night at a large-scale fundraiser attended by former Democratic presidents such as Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
Host) On the other hand, former President Trump was rumored to be under financial pressure?
Reporter) That’s right. This is because former President Trump is incurring huge legal costs as he faces civil trials and four criminal cases. However, last March, donations increased as former President Trump was confirmed as the de facto Republican presidential candidate. The election campaign has revealed that former President Trump will be able to raise enough campaign money.
Host) Did former President Trump also host a celebrity fundraiser?
Host) Yes, on the 4th, a private dinner event was held at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, where former President Trump’s home is. Hundreds of people attended, including prominent Republican lawmakers and donors. Some attendees gave more than $40,000, CNN reported, citing sources.
Host) At the event on this day (the 4th), a large number of people who were mentioned as former President Trump’s running mate or vice presidential candidate were present?
Reporter) That’s right. According to the media, figures included in the vice presidential candidates attended, including South Dakota Governor Kristi Noam, Senator Marco Rubio, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Senator JD Vance, Representative Elise Stefanik, and Senator Tim Scott, the meeting with former President Trump. I had the opportunity to meet face to face. These candidates have recently appeared in various media to defend and support former President Trump.
Host) The speech former President Trump gave at the event on this day (the 4th) was also discussed?
Reporter) Yes, former President Trump strongly criticized President Biden and the impeachment of himself in his speech. This was first reported by the New York Times. Former President Trump claimed the White House was behind his impeachment, saying, “These guys are running a Gestapo administration.” The Gestapo was a secret police organization during the Nazi era in Germany. Former President Trump continued, “That’s the only thing the Biden administration has. “The only way they can beat me is by actually killing themselves,” he said “But that doesn’t matter to me.”
Host) How did President Biden respond to these comments?
Reporter) He immediately responded to comments that equated the Biden administration with Nazi Germany. James Singer, a spokesman for the Biden campaign, issued a statement on the 5th, saying, “Former President Trump has once again made disgusting and offensive comments about the Holocaust (genocide of Jews), while attacking the enforcement of the law, glorifying political violence, and harming our democracy.” “They are threatening,” he criticized.
Host) America Now, we will listen to this today.
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