Douglas Olsen
Columbia University has a history of student protests, with a well-known archive of student protest and university sanctions dating back to the 20th century. In 1968, over 700 students occupied five buildings on campus, including Hamilton Hall, protesting the US government's involvement in the Vietnam War and demanding civil rights. In 1985, about 300 students blockaded Hamilton Hall for three weeks, demanding that Columbia University divest from its investments in South Africa-related companies. More recently, in 2024, Columbia University saw protests and counter-protests following Hamas' attack on Israel, with students demanding divestment from Israel and companies supporting the war in Gaza. The protests resulted in several arrests and disciplinary actions, with reports of clashes between protesters and police.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Protest | 1968, 1972, 1985, 2024, 2025 |
| Number of Protesters | 700, 60, 300, 100+, 65 |
| Buildings Occupied | Hamilton Hall, Kent Hall, Lewisohn Hall, Millstein Library, Barnard College |
| Protester Demands | Withdrawal of U.S. forces in Vietnam, resignation of Columbia faculty from the Jason Division of the IDA, examination of U.S. business interests in South Africa, suspension of work for the U.S. government from Columbia’s School of International Affairs, divestment from South Africa-related companies, divestment from Israel, financial transparency, amnesty for protesters |
| Action Taken by University | Arrests, suspensions, disciplinary hearings, leniency requests, reduction of disciplinary penalties, cancellation of commencement ceremony |
| Protester Actions | Holding acting dean hostage, barricading buildings, clashing with security officials, vandalizing library, distributing pamphlets endorsing Hamas, renaming library after Basel al-Araj, counter-protests |
| Notable Protesters | Maggie Gyllenhaal's daughter, Ramona Sarsgaard, Symmes Cannon, Hannah Puelle, Gabrielle Wimer, Marianne Almero, Samarra Sankar, Vishwanath, Sueda Polat, Khymani James, Darazim |
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What You'll Learn
Protests against US involvement in the Vietnam War
The anti-war movement was largely peaceful, with nonviolent protests, "teach-ins", and civil disobedience. However, some protests turned violent, triggering a backlash of support for the government and targeted corporations, such as Dow. The news media became increasingly skeptical of the war, and mainstream churches and unions began to speak out more boldly.
In February 1967, The New York Review of Books published "The Responsibility of Intellectuals", an essay by Noam Chomsky, a leading intellectual opponent of the war. Chomsky argued that liberal intellectuals and technical experts provided pseudo-scientific justification for the policies of the US government. The same year, the editor-in-chief of Time and Life magazines, Hedley Donovan, came out against the war, abandoning a pro-war editorial stance.
In April 1968, a sit-in began in Hamilton Hall at Columbia University, catalyzing the occupation of four other buildings by students protesting the US government's involvement in the Vietnam War. More than 700 students occupied five buildings and held the acting dean of Columbia College, Henry Coleman, hostage for over 24 hours. Over 700 students were arrested and disciplined, with 73 suspended from Columbia after the protests.
Protests continued until January 1973, when the US ended its involvement in Vietnam. In April 1972, over 60 Columbia students and community members occupied several buildings, including Hamilton Hall, Kent Hall, and Lewisohn Hall, in support of campus anti-war demonstrations. Their demands included the immediate withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam and the resignation of Columbia faculty members from the Jason Division of the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a private research institute for the Department of Defense.
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Pro-Palestinian protests
Columbia University has a history of student protests, with students taking a stand on issues ranging from the Vietnam War to racial equality. In recent times, the university has witnessed a series of pro-Palestinian protests and demonstrations. These protests, which began in 2023, were sparked by the Gaza war and the broader context of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
In October 2023, students at Columbia University, including those from pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups, staged demonstrations on campus. The pro-Palestinian activists organised by anti-Zionist groups, called for the university to divest from Israel and end its academic activities in Tel Aviv, where a satellite campus was planned. The protests also included chants of "From the river to the sea", expressing support for Palestinian statehood. The university is home to a diverse community with observant Jewish students and professors who are avid supporters of Palestine, leading to a range of perspectives and tensions on campus.
On April 17, 2024, pro-Palestinian students established an encampment on the East Butler Lawn of the Morningside campus, naming it the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment." They demanded that Columbia University divest from Israel and posted community guidelines at the entrance, emphasising respect and consent. However, the university president authorised the NYPD to dismantle the encampment, leading to mass arrests. This response sparked further protests, and the proliferation of similar Palestine solidarity encampments at universities worldwide.
The pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University have had significant consequences. The university switched to hybrid learning for the remainder of the semester, and the university-wide graduation ceremony scheduled for May 15 was cancelled. The Trump administration threatened to cut federal funding and instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain and deport international students who participated in the protests. As a result of these threats, Columbia University took disciplinary action against the protesters, suspending and expelling some students. The disciplinary measures were met with criticism, with some arguing that the university bowed to external pressure rather than upholding freedom of speech and expression on campus.
The protests also brought attention to incidents of antisemitism near the protest sites. While organisers and pro-Palestinian Jewish protesters stated that these incidents were carried out by outside agitators and non-students, they highlighted the complexities and tensions surrounding the issue. The protests have sparked ongoing discussions about the role of universities in fostering dialogue, protecting free speech, and maintaining a safe environment for all students amid polarising topics.
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Protests against Apartheid and divestment from South Africa
The Coalition for a Free South Africa (CFSA), a student group formed in 1982, frequently led protests and advocated for divestment. In 1983, the University Senate, which included students, faculty, and administration, unanimously approved a motion to support divestment. However, the Trustees, who controlled the endowment, stalled and refused to act. This prompted CFSA to take more direct action.
On April 4, 1985, seven students from CFSA chained the doors of Hamilton Hall, the administrative building, shut and began a blockade. Their numbers quickly grew, and within two hours, more than 250 students had joined the protest. This blockade lasted for about three weeks, with nearly 2,000 people participating at its peak. The protesters faced disciplinary threats and expulsion, but they persisted, inspired by figures like IRA leader Bobby Sands, who had gone on a hunger strike.
The protest gained worldwide support, with celebrities like Audre Lorde, Pete Seeger, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu expressing solidarity. The CFSA's efforts culminated in success, as Columbia University agreed to divest from South Africa-related companies in the fall of 1985. This victory influenced other divestment campaigns across the country and highlighted the power of student activism in challenging institutional inertia.
The protests against Apartheid and divestment from South Africa at Columbia University demonstrate the commitment of students to social justice and their ability to create meaningful change. By standing up against institutional resistance and remaining steadfast in their demands, the protesters played a pivotal role in holding their university accountable and contributing to the broader struggle against Apartheid.
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Student demands and university sanctions
Columbia University has a long history of student protests, with students demanding change on a variety of issues. One of the earliest recorded protests was in April 1968, when students occupied Hamilton Hall and four other buildings on campus, protesting the US government's involvement in the Vietnam War and demanding civil rights advancements. Over 700 students were arrested and 73 were suspended from the university.
In 1972, over 60 students and community members occupied several buildings, including Hamilton Hall, Kent Hall, and Lewisohn Hall, for 17 days. Their demands included the immediate withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam, the resignation of five Columbia faculty members from the Jason Division of the Institute for Defense Analyses, an examination of the US government's business interests in South Africa, and the suspension of work for the US government from Columbia's School of International Affairs. Only three of the 48 students charged were convicted at a disciplinary hearing.
In the spring of 1985, approximately 300 students blockaded Hamilton Hall for three weeks, demanding that Columbia University divest from its investments in South Africa-related companies. Fifty-four students received a sentence of one semester of disciplinary warning, and in the fall of the same year, the university agreed to divest.
In April 1987, over 40 students blockaded Hamilton Hall again, this time protesting the university's handling of racial tensions on campus. The most serious charges against the protesters were dropped, and in 1996, Columbia students protested again, demanding the creation of an Ethnic Studies department. This protest included a hunger strike and was resolved through mediation.
More recently, in May 2025, there were protests at Columbia University calling for the university to divest from Israel and end its academic activities in Tel Aviv. The protesters occupied Butler Library and renamed it "Basel Al-Araj Popular University." The NYPD arrested 80 protesters, and the university's acting president, Claire Shipman, stated that over 65 students were suspended.
Throughout its history, Columbia University has been a site of active student protest, with students advocating for a variety of social, political, and economic causes. The university's responses to these protests have varied, ranging from suspensions and disciplinary charges to eventual concessions to some of the students' demands.
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Counter-protests and disciplinary action
Protests have been a feature of Columbia University since the 20th century, with students taking a stand on issues such as the Vietnam War, civil rights, and the university's investments in South Africa. In more recent times, the university has witnessed a wave of pro-Palestinian protests, which sparked counter-protests and disciplinary actions.
In response to the pro-Palestinian protests, some Jewish students at Columbia University expressed concerns about antisemitism on campus. One student, David Lederer, held a small counter-protest with a friend outside the university gates. They unfurled a banner that read, "Get Support for Terrorism Off Our Campus". Lederer and his friend were sworn at by a passerby. The counter-protesters argued that the pro-Palestinian groups had not sufficiently condemned the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which left about 1,200 people dead and 251 people taken hostage.
The pro-Palestinian protests led to disciplinary actions by the university. In May 2024, Columbia University suspended more than 65 students for their involvement in a pro-Palestinian protest at Butler Library. Additionally, Columbia students Symmes Cannon and Hannah Puelle were arrested and suspended for joining a mob that stormed Barnard College's Millstein Library and clashed with police. At least four other students had already faced punishment for previously raiding campus buildings.
The disciplinary actions extended beyond the students to faculty members as well. One faculty member, Joseph Massad, a prominent Palestinian advocate and professor in MESAAS, wrote an op-ed praising the Hamas operation. This contributed to the perception that Columbia harbored antisemitic faculty and students.
The protests and counter-protests, along with the disciplinary actions, have had a significant impact on the university. There have been reports of a canceled commencement, presidential resignations, and a sense of unease on campus. The university has also faced criticism from various quarters, including from New York Mayor Eric Adams, who supported the arrests of the protesters.
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Frequently asked questions
The protesters are a mix of students and community members.
The protests are pro-Palestinian and call for Columbia to divest from Israel.
Yes, there have been counter-protests from pro-Israel Jewish students who have expressed concern about antisemitism on campus.
Yes, there have been numerous arrests made during the protests, including repeat offenders.
The university administration has suspended students who have participated in the protests and cancelled classes and commencement ceremonies due to the ongoing protests.
