1 month ago
Columbia University protests expected for 5th consecutive time
NEW YORK -- Protests astatine Columbia University complete nan Israel-Hamas war continued for a 5th consecutive time Sunday, sparking much information concerns for immoderate students connected campus.
More than 100 group person been arrested since protests connected and adjacent nan campus in Upper Manhattan started Wednesday.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators person besides been captious of Columbia's consequence to nan conflict and person called connected nan assemblage to divest from Israel.
On Saturday, a ample group of protesters gathered extracurricular nan assemblage gates, while student protesters returned to nan main section connected campus. Four much group were arrested and released pinch summonses, according to NYPD.
The time before, protesters were sprawled successful sleeping bags and connected mats pinch banners and Palestinian flags laid retired astir them.
Students astatine different colleges, including Boston University, Harvard University and Ohio State University, called for rallies successful solidarity pinch Columbia students, CNN reported.
Meanwhile successful Washington, nan House connected Saturday passed a $95 cardinal overseas assistance package that includes costs for Israel and humanitarian assistance successful Gaza.
Antisemitism and information concerns
The commencement of nan protests coincided pinch Columbia University President Minouche Shafik's testimony connected antisemitism on assemblage campuses earlier nan House Committee connected Education and nan Workforce.
The proceeding lasted respective hours and galore Columbia students watched to spot Shafik's commitment to their safety.
On Sunday morning, Rep. Elise Stefanik called connected Shafik to resign.
"While Columbia's grounded activity spent hundreds of hours preparing for this week's Congressional hearing, it intelligibly was an effort to screen up for their abject nonaccomplishment to enforce their ain field rules and protect Jewish students connected campus," Stefanik said connected X, formerly known arsenic Twitter. "Over nan past fewer months and particularly nan past 24 hours, Columbia's activity has intelligibly mislaid power of its field putting Jewish students' information astatine risk. It is crystal clear that Columbia University -- antecedently a beacon of world excellence founded by Alexander Hamilton -- needs caller leadership. President Shafik must instantly resign. And nan Columbia Board must name a President who will protect Jewish students and enforce schoolhouse policies."
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul took to X to reiterate nan correct to serene assembly, but besides said threats of unit against Jewish students will not beryllium tolerated.
"The First Amendment protects nan correct to protestation but students besides person a correct to study successful an situation free from harassment aliases violence. At Columbia aliases connected immoderate campus, threatening Jewish students pinch unit aliases glorifying nan panic of Oct. 7 is antisemitism," Hochul said.
The White House besides released a connection denouncing antisemitism.
"While each American has nan correct to serene protest, calls for unit and beingness intimidation targeting Jewish students and nan Jewish organization are blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable, and vulnerable -- they person perfectly nary spot connected immoderate assemblage campus, aliases anyplace successful nan United States of America. And echoing nan rhetoric of violent organizations, particularly successful nan aftermath of nan worst massacre committed against nan Jewish group since nan Holocaust, is despicable. We condemn these statements successful nan strongest terms," Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said.
Protesters inhabit Columbia's South Lawn
Demonstrators started occupying nan South Lawn connected nan Columbia field Wednesday. They constructed a makeshift encampment of tents, which led to a standoff pinch assemblage activity and dozens of arrests.
Police make arrests astatine Columbia University astatine a makeshift encampment group up by pro-Palestinian protesters connected nan university's main section connected April 18, 2024.
Nathan Rosenbaum
The NYPD took much than 100 group astatine nan encampment into custody Thursday aft Shafik said it violated information policies. CBS New York has learned 3 much were detained connected Saturday night.
Students were warned to time off nan encampment by Wednesday nighttime aliases they would beryllium suspended.
Some Jewish students said pinch Passover opening Monday night, they consciousness unsafe.
Students wrong of nan encampment connected nan existent field said nan pro-Palestinian demonstrators that were heard extracurricular nan gates of nan schoolhouse were not student affiliated.
In nan quad connected campus, students were camping retired successful tents, socializing, and chanting things for illustration "Resistance is glorious."
Columbia said successful a statement, "Students do not person support to group up tents connected nan lawn. Those who do are successful usurpation of long-standing University argumentation and will beryllium identified and subjected to disciplinary action."
Rabbi tells Jewish students to enactment location amid nan protests
Jewish students connected field said they've been surviving successful changeless fearfulness for nan past 5 days, arsenic they judge galore of nan chants are antisemitic.
That, successful part, prompted a rabbi associated pinch Columbia's Orthodox Union Jewish Learning Initiative connected field said he is recommending Jewish students stay location amid nan protests connected campus.
However, aft that connection was sent to students, Campus Hillel issued a contrasting connection connected X, saying it does not judge Jewish students should time off campus, adding, "We do judge that nan assemblage and nan metropolis request to do much to guarantee nan information of our students."
A different rabbi, Yehuda Drizin, of nan university's Chabad, decided to present matzah to students celebrating Passover. He said, "This is simply a formative infinitesimal and nary of them merit to beryllium successful this. This is outrageous. It's insane, but astatine nan aforesaid time, what I'm seeing, nan students measurement up and confidently travel to nan Seder and eat nan matzah and opportunity we're beardown and we're proud and we're not fearful. That's nan guidance I'm seeing and it's amazing."
A student named Sarah, who was protesting wrong nan encampment, said, "We are demanding full financial transparency. This is thing astir schools, galore schools, authorities schools, each supply conscionable transparency astir wherever ethic investments are coming from, what they're investing in."
- In:
- Manhattan
- Israel
- Columbia University
- Morningside Heights
- Palestinians
- Antisemitism
- New York City
