In pics: Pro-Palestinian protests gain momentum across US universities

Pro-Palestinian protests at US universities spread further on Wednesday, prompting a senior Republican leader to suggest the possibility of deploying the National Guard. (AFP photo)

The comments from House Speaker Mike Johnson may stir strong emotions in a country where the memory of National Guardsmen fatally shooting unarmed students protesting the Vietnam War in 1970 still resonates. (AFP photo)

The student protesters are showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where the death toll, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has surpassed 34,200. They're urging Columbia and other universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel. (AFP photo)

Demonstrations erupted at the University of Southern California on Wednesday, while in Texas, a tense standoff unfolded between students and police in riot gear, resulting in the detention of more than 20 people. The clashes mark the latest confrontation between law enforcement and students expressing anger over the increasing death toll in Israel's conflict with Hamas. (AP photo)

Johnson's visit to Columbia coincided with Texas deploying police in riot gear at the University of Texas in Austin, where hundreds of protesters staged a spirited walkout, chanting "down with occupation." (Reuters photo)

The movement began at Columbia University in New York, where dozens were arrested last week after university authorities enlisted police to disperse an occupation that Jewish students described as threatening and anti-Semitic. (Reuters photo)

Students chanted "Free free Palestine" along with the controversial slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," which some interpret as advocating for the elimination of the state of Israel. (Reuters photo)