Protesting Students At Columbia University: How Many?

Columbia University has a long history of student protest movements, with the latest being the pro-Palestine protests that began in April 2024. The protests, which started with the establishment of a Gaza solidarity encampment, led to the suspension and arrest of several students. The university faced criticism for its handling of the protests, with some accusing it of targeting students for their political beliefs. The protests sparked similar demonstrations at campuses across the country and worldwide. While the exact number of students protesting is unclear, the movement gained significant attention and sparked debates about free speech and civil disobedience on college campuses.

Columbia University students protested against the Israel-Hamas war

Columbia University students have been protesting against the Israel-Hamas war, with demonstrations intensifying as the conflict progresses. Students have demanded that universities cut financial ties with Israel, with protests taking the form of encampments, sit-ins, and marches.

On April 29, 2024, Columbia University students defied a university deadline to disband their protest encampment, with over 300 people chanting, clapping, and drumming. The university had given protesters an ultimatum to leave the encampment by 2 pm and sign a form committing to abide by university policies, or face suspension. The students' defiance came amid rising tensions on campuses across the US, sparked by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.

The Columbia University protests sparked similar demonstrations at other colleges and universities nationwide. The Columbia University encampment received national media attention for its size and the university's decision to suspend and arrest protesters who refused to leave. Early protests at Columbia inspired pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country and even in Europe.

The protests have been met with mixed reactions. Some students and faculty members have expressed support for the protesters' right to free speech and peaceful assembly. However, others have criticised the protests as disruptive to campus life and academic activities. There have also been reports of vandalism, harassment, and intimidation by anti-Israel activists on campus.

The university has taken steps to address the protests, including negotiating with students and offering alternative venues for demonstrations. However, the handling of the protests has prompted federal complaints and lawsuits from both pro-Palestinian and Jewish student groups, alleging civil rights violations and a breach of contract, respectively.

The conflict between student protesters and university administrators reflects a broader tension between the values of free speech and civil disobedience and the need to maintain order and safety on college campuses.

Students were suspended and arrested for refusing to vacate an encampment

Columbia University has a long history of student protest movements, with the latest being a pro-Palestinian demonstration that led to several arrests and suspensions. The protest, which began in April 2024, was sparked by the war in Gaza and called for the university to divest from any economic ties to Israel. Over 100 students were arrested for refusing to vacate an encampment on the university's quad, with some receiving suspensions and housing evictions.

Aidan Parisi, Brandon Murphy, and Catherine Curran-Groome were among those suspended and arrested for their involvement in the protest. They, along with other students, defied university rules and engaged in civil disobedience by setting up an unauthorised encampment. The university's "outdoor space policy" states that "all tenting must be ordered through Columbia Facilities Events Administration". Despite repeated requests from the university and the opportunity to vacate the premises, the students refused to leave, leading to their arrest.

As a result of their actions, Parisi and Murphy received one-year suspensions, while Curran-Groome was suspended for two years. All three students were scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2025 but now face an uncertain future. They have since filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging that their disciplinary action was a violation of their free speech rights and that the university targeted them for their pro-Palestine activism.

The Columbia University protest gained national attention and inspired similar demonstrations at other colleges and universities across the country. It also sparked a wider conversation about the role of student protest and the boundaries of free speech on private college campuses. While some supported the students' right to protest, others criticised the demonstrations as disruptive and antisemitic. The university administration faced pressure from various groups, including Republican lawmakers and alumni, to take action against the protesters.

A lawsuit was filed against Columbia University for disciplinary action and housing eviction

In February 2025, three Columbia University students filed a lawsuit against the school, citing numerous instances of the university targeting them for their pro-Palestine activism, including disciplinary action and housing eviction. The lawsuit, Curran-Groome, et al. v. Columbia University, was brought by graduate students Catherine Curran-Groome, Aidan Parisi, and Brandon Murphy, who identified over 30 violations of long-standing protocols by the university.

The plaintiffs alleged that Columbia University abrogated its responsibility to follow its own rules and policies in order to target and penalize their engagement in anti-war efforts and pro-Palestine activism. One of the main violations cited in the lawsuit was the university's decision to invite law enforcement to campus to mass-arrest demonstrators, which infringed on Section 444.f. of the University Statutes. The university president, Minouche Shafik, was accused of overriding the senate's decision and facilitating the arrests without the required approval.

Another significant violation identified in the lawsuit was the university's breach of New York's landlord-tenant laws. Curran-Groome and Parisi were subjected to eviction from university housing with only a 24-hour notice, contrary to the 30-day period stipulated by New York State law. This caused significant stress and financial difficulties for the students, who were financially independent and had no alternative housing options in the city.

The lawsuit also highlighted the university's use of ""interim suspensions" without due process rights, which resulted in the loss of housing, healthcare, scholarships, employment, and financial aid for the plaintiffs. Curran-Groome, for example, lost her housing, healthcare, meal plan, full scholarship, and employment as a direct consequence of the disciplinary action. The lawsuit argued that the university's actions were motivated by a desire to protect its bottom line and prevent the student movement from gaining traction.

The lawsuit sought to hold Columbia University accountable for its handling of the situation and to ensure that the university thinks twice before persecuting students for their viewpoints and engaging in arbitrary disciplinary actions and housing evictions.

Pro-Palestine students were targeted for deportation by Columbia Alumni for Israel

In April 2024, Columbia University students protesting against the war in Gaza set up a tent encampment on campus, defying a university deadline to disband. More than 100 students were arrested for refusing to vacate the encampment.

In February 2025, three of the students who had been suspended and arrested—Catherine Curran-Groome, Aidan Parisi, and Brandon Murphy—sued the university, alleging that Columbia had "departed from its established rules and policies to unlawfully target and punish plaintiffs… to silence and de facto expel [them]."

The Columbia Alumni for Israel, a WhatsApp group of over 1,000 members, including parents, a current student, and professors, had been discussing how to identify and report student protesters to law enforcement and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. Members of the group welcomed President Donald Trump's executive order threatening to deport international students involved in pro-Palestine protests.

In the WhatsApp group, former Columbia assistant professor Lynne Bursky-Tammam said, "Identifying the Columbia student-Hamas-sympathizers who show up is key to deporting those with student visas." Victor Muslin, a Columbia alumnus and pro-Israel activist, offered to help identify students with photos, even those with partially obscured faces, using advanced technology.

In response to an article about students protesting Israel's killing of a six-year-old, Bursky-Tammam said, "Arresting them for hate crimes is not enough. We have to get rid of them." The group also discussed tactics for targeting US citizens involved in the protests through other legal means, such as "material support for terror organizations."

Columbia University has faced intense criticism for its handling of the protests, particularly after President Nemat "Minouche" Shafik called in the New York Police Department to disperse pro-Palestinian demonstrators in April 2024, sparking a wave of pro-Palestinian protests at universities nationwide.

Pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University have sparked similar demonstrations worldwide

Pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University have sparked similar demonstrations at other colleges and universities worldwide. In April 2024, Columbia students set up a Gaza solidarity encampment to protest the genocide in Palestine, which helped ignite a nationwide movement. The Columbia University protests have a complex history, dating back to the 1960s, with a notable demonstration taking place in 1968, when students took over five campus buildings to protest the university's connection to an institute doing weapon research for the Vietnam War. This historic event inspired future generations of students to stand up for their beliefs and sparked similar demonstrations at other institutions.

The 2024 protests at Columbia University were met with a heavy-handed response from the university administration and law enforcement. More than 100 students were arrested and faced disciplinary action, including suspension and eviction from university housing. The university's response to the protests sparked widespread criticism and debate about the boundaries of free speech and civil disobedience on college campuses.

The protests at Columbia University have had a significant impact and influenced similar demonstrations worldwide. Students at other universities, such as the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Oregon, and the University of Washington, have followed suit, setting up their own encampments and demonstrations to show solidarity with Palestine and call for their universities to divest from companies tied to Israel.

The Columbia University protests and their aftermath have also brought to light the complex issues surrounding free speech, civil disobedience, and the boundaries of acceptable protest on college campuses. While some view the protests as a brave stand against injustice, others criticise them for disrupting campus life and targeting Jewish students. The debate surrounding the protests has led to a wider conversation about the role of universities in protecting free speech while also maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all students.

Frequently asked questions