Hundreds of demonstrators opposing Israel gathered outside Columbia University in New York City on Tuesday to coincide with the start of the spring semester.
The Times of Israel reports that the protestors assembled along Broadway near one of Columbia’s entrances in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Their chants included phrases such as, “We will honor all our martyrs,” “Smash the settler Zionist state,” and “Intifada people’s war,” accompanied by the beat of a snare drum.
On the university grounds, a smaller faction of activists rallied near Butler Library, shouting, “Long live the intifada,” before departing campus to join the larger group of protestors.
“Columbia, you will see, we resist till victory,” chanted the participants, many of whom concealed their faces with medical masks or keffiyehs. Meanwhile, a small contingent of pro-Israel supporters countered by waving Israeli flags and shouting, “Am Yisrael Chai” in Hebrew.
The event was organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition spearheaded by Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace.
In a related incident, activists interrupted a class on the history of modern Israel, taught by Israeli professor Avi Shilon. According to student Elisha Baker, three individuals entered the classroom, distributed flyers critical of Israel, and accused the course of spreading “genocidal propaganda for the apartheid state.”
Columbia University President Katrina Armstrong issued a statement strongly denouncing the classroom disturbance.
“Today a History of Modern Israel class was disrupted by protesters who handed out fliers. We strongly condemn this disruption, as well as the fliers that included violent imagery that is unacceptable on our campus and in our community. No group of students has a right to disrupt another group of students in a Columbia classroom. Disrupting academic activities constitutes a violation of the Rules of University conduct and the nature of the disruption may constitute violations of other University policies,” Armstrong stated.
“We will move quickly to investigate and address this act. We want to be absolutely clear that any act of antisemitism, or other form of discrimination, harassment, or intimidation against members of our community is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” she added.
The university has faced mounting criticism for a rise in antisemitic incidents on campus following the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023.
Back in April, pro-Palestinian Arab activists erected an encampment on campus, demanding that Columbia sever its financial ties to Israel. In response, university officials enlisted law enforcement to dismantle the tents.
On April 30, following directives from university leaders, numerous New York Police Department officers entered the campus, gaining access to a building via a second-story window. This led to the arrests of many pro-Palestinian Arab demonstrators who had occupied Hamilton Hall.
Earlier that month, safety concerns during a pro-Hamas demonstration compelled Columbia’s Chabad rabbi and a group of Jewish students to leave the campus.
In August, three deans from Columbia University resigned after their involvement in sharing “very troubling” text messages containing “disturbing” antisemitic themes came to light.
Later that month, President Dr. Minouche Shafik announced her decision to step down, following sustained criticism over her management of campus antisemitism issues.
As classes resumed in September, masked protestors opposing Israel gathered at the entrances to Columbia and Barnard College, marking yet another demonstration at the university.
{Matzav.com}