Over 100 people, including Rep. Ilhan Omar’s daughter Isra Hirsi, were arrested and issued summonses for trespassing after protesters set up an encampment at Columbia University in New York in support of Gaza. The protesters occupied the space for 30 hours before being arrested. Mayor Eric Adams stated that while Columbia students have a history of protests, they do not have the right to violate university policies and that the city will not tolerate lawlessness.
Hirsi, who attends Barnard College, stated that she was suspended for standing in solidarity with Palestinians facing a genocide. She emphasized that those involved in the encampment will not be intimidated. Despite being peaceful during the arrests, two individuals were also charged with obstruction of governmental administration. Meanwhile, around 500 students peacefully protested in support of the encampment, with video footage showing crowds chanting “shame on you.”
Columbia University’s president, Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, stated that the encampment posed a danger to the functioning of the University, leading her to authorize police to clear the area. By late Thursday afternoon, the original tent encampment was disassembled, but protesters began building a new one on an adjacent lawn. Barnard College also took action against its students involved in the encampment, issuing interim suspensions and warning of further sanctions.
Isra Hirsi could not be reached for comment, and Rep. Ilhan Omar did not immediately respond to requests. The arrests at Columbia University come amid tensions over free speech on college campuses following the war between Hamas and Israel. Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters have clashed in Morningside Heights in upper Manhattan, reflecting the broader discourse surrounding the conflict. This week, the University of Southern California and the University of California, Berkeley, have also faced controversies related to free speech and student activism.
Various student organizations, including Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, have condemned the clearing of the encampment, calling it an act of violence against Arab, Muslim, Palestinian, and Jewish students. Layla Saliba, a student at the school of social work, criticized President Shafik for the arrests, stating that they are part of an effort to silence pro-Palestinian views on campus. The situation has highlighted the ongoing debate around the balancing of free speech, activism, and safety on college campuses, particularly in relation to sensitive political issues.
