Anti-Israel protesters at Columbia University celebrated as rumors of a campus lockdown and evictions were squashed by the school administration. Despite previous claims by the Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine group that the university was planning to crack down on the ongoing “tent city” demonstration, the administration stated that negotiations with the students were progressing, and there was no impending lockdown or evictions on campus. The SJP accused the university of changing its stance under pressure and claimed Columbia had scheduled a briefing to announce the crackdown on Saturday night, which did not happen.
Following the administration’s reassurance that they would not crack down on the demonstrations, protesters were seen celebrating and continuing their chants and songs at the Manhattan campus encampment. The protesters were in it for the long haul, providing food options such as chips, pasta, fried chicken, and even vegan and Kosher options. One Jewish student named Jared, who supported the demonstrations, believed that Jewish safety required Palestinian liberation and criticized the university for suspending Jewish students for participating in the protest.
Despite facing backlash for antisemitic chants heard at the camp, the protesters continued their demonstration. Jared stated that the university was guilty of antisemitism for suspending Jewish students who were participating in the protest. The protests have been ongoing for more than a week, with students sharing showers and laundry facilities with suspended students who lost access to the buildings. Some protesters proudly displayed signs indicating they had been arrested during the initial police raid on campus and refused to leave until their demands, including divesting from Israel and granting amnesty to arrested students, were met.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik has been criticized for failing to address the protests, with calls for action coming from various figures, including Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan. Dayan likened the protesters to the Ku Klux Klan and urged Shafik to take a stand against the ongoing demonstrations, stating that they served no purpose at an Ivy League college. He called on Shafik to lead with moral principles and speak out against the protesters. Despite the calls for action, the protesters remained organized, employing student and faculty security to keep non-demonstrators, as well as “Zionists,” out of the gate, and restricting access for reporters and photographers.
The protesters are demanding the university to meet their demands, including divestment from Israel and amnesty for arrested, suspended, and probationed students. The ongoing demonstration has sparked controversy and debate on free speech, antisemitism, and the role of universities in addressing political protests on campus. The protesters are determined to continue their encampment until their demands are met, while critics urge the administration to take a stand against the protest and uphold moral standards. The situation at Columbia University remains tense as the standoff between the administration and protesters continues.
