Mass Arrests and Suspensions: Columbia University Faces Backlash Over Pro-Palestinian Protest
New York City – Clashes took place on the campus of Columbia University on Thursday as police cleared a long-standing pro-Palestinian protest encampment. Over 100 demonstrators were arrested for trespassing, highlighting the escalating tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has reverberated across American college campuses.
The encampment, established by students in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, had been a focal point of campus activism for months. However, Columbia University President Nemat Shafik authorized the removal of the tents, citing violations of university regulations regarding unauthorized demonstrations and a lack of engagement with university administrators. Mayor Eric Adams of New York City echoed this sentiment, emphasizing students’ right to free speech while condemning disruptions to campus life.
This move to dismantle the encampment came just one day after a congressional hearing where Shafik faced scrutiny over alleged anti-Semitism on campus and accusations of targeting pro-Palestinian protesters. Columbia, a prestigious university with a long history of student activism, has become a microcosm of the national debate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While protests supporting both sides have occurred, the university’s crackdown on unauthorized gatherings has drawn particular criticism.
Among those arrested was Isra Hirsi, a student activist and daughter of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar. Hirsi and several other students involved in the protest face suspension from Columbia and its affiliated institution, Barnard College. Defiant in the face of disciplinary action, Hirsi took to social media to reiterate her demands for transparency regarding university investments, divestment from companies seen as profiting from the conflict, and amnesty for suspended students.
The clash at Columbia is reminiscent of past student activism at the university, particularly the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s. This incident is far from isolated, with similar disruptions occurring across the country at universities, airports, and bridges in response to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Another example unfolded on the same day at the University of Southern California (USC), where a Muslim student’s valedictorian speech was canceled due to alleged safety concerns. Supporters of the student, Asna Tabassum, believe the university aimed to silence her criticism of the Israeli assault on Gaza. Hundreds of demonstrators protested at USC, demanding Tabassum be allowed to deliver her speech.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, marked by the recent assault on Gaza that claimed over 33,000 lives, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, continues to ignite passionate responses around the world. Columbia University’s events serve as a stark reminder of this conflict’s profound impact on campuses across the United States, with students on both sides mobilizing and demanding to be heard.
