By Claire Davenport
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations were back on Columbia’s campus Friday afternoon, the first such protests of the new academic year. Around 100 students, many wearing masks and keffiyehs to dodge university surveillance and online harassment, gathered in front of the sundial on central campus for a protest dubbed “All Out of Lebanon.”
Some waved Palestinian and Lebanese flags near the site of the tent encampment that last spring marked the beginning of nationwide student protests. The protests at Columbia culminated in the occupation of the university’s Hamilton Hall, which ended after the school’s administration called in New York City police to clear the encampment and take back the building.
During Friday’s two-hour demonstration, Pro-Palestinian protesters sang now-familiar chants such as “Disclose, divest, we will not stop we will not rest,” and “Intifada revolution,” along with newer ones: “We have nothing to lose but our chains” and “Glory to Lebanon.”
Across from that group, about a dozen pro-Israel counter-protesters waved American and Israeli flags and held up a large red banner reading: “Get support for terrorism off our campus.” They chanted “USA” and “Hey, Columbia, it’s old news, they just want to kill the Jews.” Midway through the protest, barricades were placed between the two groups.
A university spokesperson told the campus newspaper Columbia Spectator that the school was “aware of this event, and public safety and University delegates are monitoring for any disruptions to campus activity.” Despite the close proximity and opposing views, the gatherings remained peaceful.
The protest was announced by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) – a coalition of student groups that organized last year’s protests – in a post on Instagram. In its post, the group called once more for the university to divest from Israel, referencing recent Israeli military actions in Lebanon.
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The new Lebanon dynamic is really making this worth watching.
“Along with newer ones: ‘We have nothing to lose but our chains.’” Oh, the irony! The newer one comes directly from The Communist Manifesto. Same old Soviet anti-Israel playbook.”
our “education” system is failing. btw, where are the chains on these students?
It’s adorable watching today’s children embrace terrorism and terrorists.
I assume they would welcome Hamas and Hezobollah fighters into their midst and would be thrilled if those terrorists stored weapons in and beneath campus buildings.
If Lebanon is the focus of a protest, it would be more accurate to describe it as anti-Israel than pro-Palestinian.
Remember when college students did things like go to class and study. Ah, the good ol’ days!
things have changed. when i was in college i carried a full schedule with plenty of work and a part time job – no time for protesting.
have these students stopped to THINK that if they were living in the gaza or iran they wouldn’t have the right to protest?!
Are the protestors students or others trespassing onto the campus causing problems for the university?
They’re wearing masks like similar to the terrorists they support. Those who are terrorists or support them have good reasons to hide their faces as they are a disgrace to humanity.
Wait, what! ISRAEL has Lebanon and Palestinians in chains? American slaves were in chains not of their making. Victims of Nazi death camps were in chains not of their making. If these protesters can’t distinguish differences between the above and the relationship between Lebanon and Israel and just these two examples of “chains” , perhaps admits to Columbia aren’t as smart as I have always thought them to be.
It is much more anti war and pro ceasefire than Pro Palestinian or anti Israel. The news really distorts this.
What will a ceasefire accomplish? It will allow Hamas and Hezbollah to rearm and rebuild their strength and attack Israel again killing tens of thousands in the process.
No, that is the lie that they want you to believe. That is not true of anything they are saying. Anyone who believes that is delusional, and being used, exploited. These groups are sponsored by Iran. Is there a faculty chapter for the new group Faculty Justice Palestine?
No Bill it is not anti-war but it is anti-semitic.
Against all Jews starting with Israel. Don’t blame the “news” listen to the words, read the placards, pay attention to what Hamas, Hezbollah , Iran, much of the World say; what much of History since BC became AD has had to say. It’s never about anti war or pro cease fire.
Why weren’t they arrested and expelled? Taking advantage of new leadership?
Because they’re not doing anything illegal.
Now they’re Hezbollah supporters too? Of course they are.
“Protests” is a vastly incorrect descriptor! These are undoubtedly “demonstrations”, but their goal is not to “protest” anything school-related (the supposed connections between the school’s investments and Israel [their target] are not-barely-tenuous), rather a simple/straightforward expression of antisemitism. The wearing of masks betrays this intent: If they were truly “protesting” a just cause, they would proudly flaunt their identity! Only a bigot and/or someone who knows that they’re promoting a cause for which polite society would shun them would mask-up; they’re following in the direct footsteps of the Klan!
All we are saying, is Give Peace a Chance.
Now that the Middle East is in full-scale war, expect these campus protests to increase in size & nastiness.
I, for one, am thankful for the students with a conscience and guts.
LOL.
It doesn’t take guts to be a masked protester. It’s cowardly.
Am assuming that public still not able to use campus path at 116th to get from Amsterdam to Broadway and need to go around the campus?
I wish the WSR would stop these Columbia articles that only manage to set off the same old “protesters are supporting terrorists and kick them out of university” comments. No useful analysis/interviews or comments