Staff Reports
A group of students called the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” have been protesting at Columbia University, blaming Israel for the conflict in the Middle East. They have set up a tent village on the university’s south lawn and have been displaying flags and signs in support of Palestine. While the protesters claim they do not support the Hamas terrorists, they often use language similar to that of Hamas.
THE GAZA ENCAMPMENT AT HARVARD HAS TRIPLED ITS NUMBERS BY THE END OF THE SECOND DAY.
THE SHOW OF SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA CONTINUES TO GROW ACROSS UNIVERSITIES pic.twitter.com/G48EWXlcC6
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) April 26, 2024
Furthermore, some professors at Columbia have joined in the criticism of Israel. One professor, Emile Benjamin, suggested that there is an equivalence between the actions of Israel and Hamas. The protesters argue that their movement includes many Jewish students and that more than 50 Jewish students were arrested alongside other protesters. However, Jewish students at Columbia have reported feeling harassed and threatened by the demonstrators and no longer feel safe on campus.
The protesters belong to a group called Columbia University Apartheid Divest, which represents numerous student-run organizations at the university. They have listed a set of demands, including divesting from any companies profiting from Israel, severing academic ties with Israeli universities, and releasing a public statement denouncing Israel’s actions.
🚨MORE PEOPLE NEEDED THE CCNY GAZA SOLIDARITY ENCAMPMENT🚨
The NYPD have begun unloading dozens of barricades in front of the only remaining entrance to the encampment, we need more numbers at CCNY RIGHT NOW to show NYPD and admin the power of the people‼️ pic.twitter.com/n6yT5omFdY
— Within Our Lifetime (@WOLPalestine) April 26, 2024
The protests have caused significant disruptions at the university, leading to the cancellation of in-person classes for the rest of the academic year. The situation has attracted attention from political figures, with House Speaker Mike Johnson calling for the university president’s resignation after meeting with Jewish students who described antisemitic threats and harassment.
The anti-Israel protests have also spread to over 40 college campuses in the U.S. and Canada. Jewish students at Columbia have expressed their concerns about the atmosphere on campus, with one student, Ariva Rubin, describing the situation as “dystopian.” She believes that some protesters are acting in good faith, but she feels that many have adopted narratives that are harmful to the larger conflict and create tension on campus.
