Dozens of anti-Israel student protesters took over the CUNY Graduate Center’s library and renamed it as “The Al Aqsa University Library” in solidarity with a university in Gaza destroyed by airstrikes. They hung Palestinian flags, banners, and signs in the library and chanted phrases demanding disclosure and divestment. Approximately 30 students were inside the building lobby while another 50 protesters were blocked from entering.
The student protesters read the names of 94 Palestinian professors recently killed during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. They took over the library building as part of a push to demand CUNY divest $8.5 million from companies complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people. They are also demanding that CUNY drop all charges against students who were arrested during a police raid on a City College encampment.
CUNY Graduate Center President Joshua Brumberg met with the student protesters in the lobby to negotiate a deal. The students stated that they would leave the building if he publicly backed amnesty for all pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at any CUNY demonstration and granted amnesty to all the protesters in the library Monday night. Brumberg only agreed to the latter demand, and the students chose to remain in the building. No arrests were made during the protest.
The protesters are demanding justice for Palestine and asserting their right to protest, stating that protesting is not a crime. The student protesters believe that divesting from companies complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people is a crucial step in showing solidarity and support for Palestine. Their actions are part of a larger movement to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in Gaza and advocate for change.
The occupation of the library by the student protesters highlights the tension and activism surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the United States. The push for divestment from companies supporting the Israeli government’s actions in Palestine is a significant part of the protesters’ demands. The students are also calling for accountability for those involved in the conflict and for amnesty for protesters arrested during demonstrations.
The protest at the CUNY Graduate Center reflects a growing movement on college campuses and in communities across the United States to show support for Palestine and push for divestment from companies complicit in the ongoing violence. The actions of the student protesters demonstrate a commitment to advocating for justice and standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The protest also sheds light on the complex issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role of universities in addressing these issues.
