America: Protests in favor of Palestine intensified after Columbia University

More than a hundred students have been arrested for demonstrating in favor of Palestine at Columbia University in the United States, after which protests have intensified in other American universities.

According to the news agency AFP, the arrests of the students came after the appearance in Congress of the president of a well-known university on charges of anti-Semitism.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at a press conference: “NYPD officers arrived to protect the campus, students, and community. More than 108 arrests have been made and the NYPD assures that No violence and damage occurred during this time.’

However, according to an AFP journalist, after the arrests of pro-Palestinian students and the tearing down of tents, the supporters’ ties were closed.

As expected, students have been galvanized by @Columbia‘s crackdown on peaceful protesters. Hundreds have rushed to take the place of their classmates who were arrested on the East Lawn and have now taken over the West Lawn. https://t.co/9ZDeLmjhFu

— Tariq Kenney-Shawa (@tksshawa) April 18, 2024

Universities have become the focus of intense cultural debate in the US since October 7, as many students’ pro-Palestinian sentiments have faced accusations of anti-Semitism.

Students from Harvard and Boston University demonstrated in solidarity with pro-Palestinian students at Columbia University, chanting pro-Palestine slogans, CBS Boston reported.

Columbia University also has an exchange program with Tel Aviv University, which has led to students calling for a boycott of all activities associated with Israel in light of the Israeli war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

According to a report by The New York Times, the daughter of Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar is also among those detained and will appear in court.

i’m an organizer with CU Apartheid Divest @ColumbiaSJPin my 3 years at @BarnardCollege i have never been reprimanded or received any disciplinary warnings

i just received notice that i am 1 of 3 students suspended for standing in solidarity with Palestinians facing a genocide.

— isra hirsi (@israhirsi) April 18, 2024

Responding to Isra Hersey’s post, US Democratic politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote: ‘How could a student with no bad record be suddenly suspended less than 24 hours after a peaceful protest? is What will be the benefit of a disproportionate crackdown on Palestinian human rights protests?’

What is going on here @BarnardCollege @Columbia?

How does a student with no disciplinary record suddenly get to a suspension less than 24 hours after a nonviolent protest?

What merits asymmetric crackdowns on Palestinian human rights protests? https://t.co/omIFZLcvpl

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 19, 2024

Columbia University President Nimat Shafiq called for police intervention to disperse the protesters, who he said had violated campus safety regulations.

Republican members of Congress also called the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, to testify, while Harvard’s president, Claudine Gee, recently resigned.

According to CBS News, supporters of Palestine chanted slogans on the main lawn of Columbia University on Friday morning and continued to demonstrate for the third day in a row.

One student told CBS New York: ‘I didn’t think there was any safety concern, because they (the protesters) were actually delivering food to everyone, they were really mingling. It’s great to see, really, the community coming together on both sides.’

School officials have warned that the protests will lead to more suspensions, but students say they won’t back down.

Demonstrator Jin Hoki said: ‘Clearly, as you can see, the school is making no effort to protect students who are protesting peacefully.’

“Our cause is not anti-Semitic,” Hokie said. Our goal is simply to say that we do not agree with what the Israeli government is doing in the Middle East.’

The NYPD, on the other hand, says they will continue to work with the school for the rest of the semester if the administration again reports to the police that their rules are being violated.

Earlier, NBC reported that some students at the University of Southern California said they were disappointed by the cancellation of Muslim student Asna Tabassum’s valedictorian speech due to security concerns.

“Over the past several days, the debate surrounding the selection of our valedictorian has taken a serious turn,” university Provost Andrew Guzman announced Monday.

In a statement, Tabassum said the university’s decision was an attempt to cover up racism.

Regarding his nomination, he said: ‘Although this should have been a time of celebration for my family, friends, professors, and classmates, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices have subjected me to a racist hate campaign.’