Protesters Demand Release of Tufts Student Rumeysa Ozturk Detained by ICE

Protests erupted in Somerville, Massachusetts, in response to the detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University Ph.D. candidate, by federal agents. Ozturk, a Turkish national, was taken into custody for allegedly supporting Hamas, prompting claims from supporters that her arrest constitutes 'state-sanctioned political kidnapping.' Demonstrators gathered to denounce the implications of her detention, emphasizing the need for freedom of expression on university campuses. City officials and rally attendees expressed outrage over the circumstances of her arrest, describing it as an unjustified act that threatens First Amendment rights. Ozturk's attorney maintains that she held a valid visa, while the Department of Homeland Security stated that her activities warranted the termination of her visa. The incident marks a significant event amidst broader concerns about the treatment of students involved in pro-Palestinian activism under the current administration.