Campus Protests Escalate: Trump Fined, Severe Weather Strikes
Tensions are escalating on numerous American university campuses, where thousands of students are protesting against the Gaza war and the stance of American authorities in this conflict, as reported by Victoria Colesnic.
Approximately 2,000 individuals have been arrested following clashes with law enforcement. Additionally, former American president Donald Trump faces a $9,000 fine for publishing criticisms directed at the individuals implicated in the case targeting him. Meanwhile, tornado season persists across the North American continent, resulting in casualties and the destruction of hundreds of homes.
The situation is increasingly tense on the campuses of numerous American universities where thousands of students are protesting against the war in the Gaza Strip and the stance of American authorities in this conflict. After erecting tent camps and setting up barricades, the students requested police involvement to disperse the crowd. Some interventions led to clashes between protesters and law enforcement. Nearly 2,000 protesters have been arrested, with the most significant confrontations occurring at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Columbia University in New York. On Thursday, American President Joe Biden responded to the student protests, emphasising that while young people have the right to protest, it should not result in disorder and chaos, as observed.
Former American President Donald Trump has been fined $9,000 for posting attacks against the individuals involved in the case targeting him. Moreover, the judge warned that if he continues to disseminate such messages, the former president risks imprisonment. In New York, the examination of the case against Donald Trump, in which he is being investigated for falsifying tax records to conceal payments made to an adult film star, is ongoing. The case is currently in the witness hearing stage, with a new session scheduled for Monday.
During the intermission between court sessions, Donald Trump continues his campaign for a new presidential term. He pledged the largest deportation of immigrants if re-elected to the White House. Trump has repeatedly accused his opponent, President Joe Biden, of endorsing the opening of borders, which, in his view, has facilitated the entry of millions of foreign citizens, including "bad people who will destroy the country." In an interview with Time magazine, Donald Trump stated that if he is re-elected president in November, he will deploy the military to track down and detain immigrants lacking the necessary documentation for legal residence. The United States is grappling with an unprecedented crisis at its southwestern border, with approximately 2.5 million people illegally entering the country through Mexico just last year.
Severe weather in several states has claimed the lives of at least six people, injuring several hundred more. Dozens of tornadoes that swept through Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas have wreaked havoc, destroying hundreds of homes. Texas remains under severe weather warning, with heavy rains, floods, and possible tornadoes forecasted. Furthermore, April saw the highest number of violent storms in the last 10 years, with over 370 tornadoes confirmed, nearly double the average recorded in previous years.
American authorities intend to relax legislation regarding marijuana consumption. The Department of Justice will soon propose reclassifying the substance from the category of dangerous drugs to the less harmful ones, with potential benefits but also risks in case of abuse. Sources within the Department of Justice, as cited by the American press, indicate that this will not entail the legalisation of consumption but only its medical use. It should be noted that for over 50 years, marijuana in the US has been classified as a dangerous substance, akin to heroin. Nevertheless, each state has the autonomy to establish its own regulations; thus, 23 states have long legalised the possession of this drug, and another 38 states have medical use programs.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
