Protests Erupt at Columbia University over Israel’s War on Gaza
In an unprecedented turn of events, hundreds of New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers stormed the Columbia University campus on Tuesday night. Armed with riot shields and zip ties, they arrested more than 280 protesters who had earlier occupied Hamilton Hall, a focal point of academic and administrative activities on campus. This event marked a significant escalation in the tension between authorities and pro-Palestine student protesters, as demonstrations continue to erupt across university campuses in the United States and beyond.
Unyielding Student Demands Spark Global Protests
The protesters are demanding a halt to Israel’s war on Gaza, which has claimed over 34,000 lives since October 7. They are also calling on their universities to sever ties with companies and institutions linked to Israel. Columbia University has found itself at the epicenter of these student protests, with students establishing a days-long encampment before occupying Hamilton Hall, thereby triggering a wave of global protests.
Columbia University’s Stance Ignites Tension
The students at Columbia University established the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on campus to protest Columbia’s response to Israel’s war on Gaza. They urged Columbia to divest – withdraw their investments – from companies that do business with Israel and sever academic ties with Israeli universities. Columbia University’s president, Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, however, refused to divest from Israel, causing the tension to escalate.
Historic Echoes in Hamilton Hall Occupation
In a strike reminiscent of landmark student protests in 1968 against the Vietnam war and in 1985 demanding that Columbia divest from companies with financial interests in apartheid South Africa, protesters occupied Hamilton Hall. This time, they renamed the building “Hind’s Hall” in honor of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl killed in Gaza earlier this year.
University’s Appeal to NYPD Provokes Crackdown
Shafik wrote a letter to the NYPD deputy commissioner, requesting NYPD assistance to clear Hamilton Hall and the surrounding encampments. Her call was answered promptly, with NYPD officers entering Columbia’s campus and arresting nearly 300 people on Tuesday night. The police crackdown also extended to the City College of New York (CUNY), where student protesters were arrested as well.
Students’ Resilience Amidst Police Crackdown
Despite the arrests, the student protesters remain resolute, pledging to continue their occupation until their demands are met: divestment from Israel, transparency about the university’s investments, and amnesty from any disciplinary measures for protesting students. The protests have received support from activist group, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), who condemned the NYPD’s crackdown.
Future of Campus Protests Amidst Rising Tensions
While it remains unclear what the next steps for the student groups behind the Columbia protest will be, they have made it clear that they intend to continue their movement until the university agrees to their demand to divest from firms linked to Israel. This event may cast a shadow over Columbia’s upcoming annual commencement, raising questions about whether the event will proceed as planned or whether protesters might seize the occasion to make a statement.
Nationwide Campus Protests Continue to Gain Momentum
Similar protests are ongoing at more than 20 campuses across the US, including New York University, Yale, and Harvard, leading to over 1,200 student arrests opposing the Gaza war. Universities are grappling with how to manage these protests, with Brown University recently agreeing to a vote on divestment from companies affiliated with Israel in October, following a compromise with protesting students.
The Columbia University protests represent a focal point in the wider wave of student protests against Israel’s war on Gaza. As the tension between student protesters and university authorities continues to escalate, the world watches on, waiting to see how this complex and highly charged situation will unfold.
