Lana Oconnell
Columbia University students have been protesting against the university's handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus and the detention of a graduate, Mahmoud Khalil, by US immigration authorities. The protests have resulted in disciplinary action by the university, with over 65 students suspended and barred from campus, as well as scrutiny from the Trump administration, which has revoked federal funding. The protests have also sparked debates about antisemitism, freedom of speech, and the limits of legitimate protest.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of protest | May 6, 2024 |
| Location | Butler Library, Columbia University |
| Number of protesters | 80 |
| Protester identities | Students, alumni |
| Protest type | Pro-Palestinian demonstration |
| Demands | Release of Mahmoud Khalil |
| Action taken | Police broke up the protest; disciplinary action against students |
| Impact | Trespassing charges, disorderly conduct charges, visa reviews, loss of federal funding |
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What You'll Learn
Pro-Palestinian protests
In 2024, Columbia University in New York City witnessed a series of protests, encampments, and occupations by pro-Palestine students, in the context of the broader Gaza war protests in the United States. The first of these protests began on April 17, 2024, when pro-Palestinian students set up approximately 50 tents on the East Butler Lawn of the university's Morningside campus. They called it the Gaza Solidarity Encampment and demanded that the university divest from Israel. This led to the establishment of Palestine solidarity encampments at over 180 universities worldwide.
The first encampment was dismantled when the university president, Minouche Shafik, authorised the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to enter the campus and conduct mass arrests. The students then occupied the adjacent lawn, establishing a new encampment. This protest escalated in April 2025 when a group of students took over Hamilton Hall, barricading themselves inside. Police arrested dozens of students at the request of Columbia University officials, and the university subsequently suspended and expelled some students.
The Trump administration pulled $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University, accusing the institution of failing to combat antisemitism on campus. However, student protesters, including Jewish organisers, argued that Trump and other pro-Israel politicians were unfairly conflating pro-Palestinian protests with antisemitism. Columbia University has stated that it has worked to combat antisemitism while also seeking to protect academic freedom.
In May 2025, Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a student activist group, organised a protest where dozens of students occupied part of the main Butler Library on campus. The university requested assistance from the NYPD, and police in riot gear arrested multiple protesters, with at least 40 to 50 students being detained. Two university safety officials were injured during the confrontation.
The pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University have sparked debates around free speech, academic freedom, and the right to peaceful protest. While some criticise the university for giving in to government pressure, others argue that the protests crossed a line and violated university policies.
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Suspension of students
Columbia University has a history of student protests, some of which have resulted in the suspension of students. One notable incident occurred in 1968, when 73 students were suspended for their involvement in campus sit-ins and protests. The university has also faced more recent tensions and protests, particularly around pro-Palestinian demonstrations and calls for divestment from Israel.
In April 2024, Columbia University issued an ultimatum to student protesters occupying the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment," giving them until 2:00 p.m. to vacate the premises or face disciplinary action, including suspension. The university cited concerns about commencement ceremonies and construction preparations as reasons for the deadline. While some students complied, others refused to leave, resulting in suspensions and even expulsions. The university asserted that students who took over a campus building and participated in the encampment violated university policies and rules.
During the lead-up to this incident, Columbia University's administration had implemented access restrictions to its Morningside campus, limiting entry to Columbia University ID holders. This move was made in anticipation of planned protests by pro-Palestinian groups and their supporters. After a pro-Palestinian demonstration on campus in January 2024, where students alleged they were attacked with chemicals, tensions escalated further. Two former Israeli soldiers, who were also current Columbia students, were accused of carrying out the attack, and the university took disciplinary action by suspending them through May 2025.
The university's handling of the situation has been scrutinized, with House Republicans demanding the disciplinary records of students involved in the protests. In response, a lawsuit was filed to block the release of such records to protect student privacy. While the university asserted that students violated policies, protesters argued that their freedom of expression was being curtailed. This incident also brought to light concerns about antisemitism and the safety of Jewish students on campus, with some feeling harassed or opting to hide their Jewish identity.
In summary, Columbia University's response to student protests has varied, with some protests resulting in mass suspensions, while others have led to more targeted disciplinary actions. The university has faced challenges in balancing the rights of protesters with maintaining order and addressing safety concerns on campus.
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Free speech
Columbia University's Rules of University Conduct state that students, staff, and others have the right to protest on campus and exercise free speech. However, the university has been criticised for its investigations into students who have been critical of Israel, which some see as a crackdown on students' free speech.
In 2024, Columbia University adopted the Anti-Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment Policies for Students, which address the balance between free speech and harassment. This came in response to recurring harassment of Jewish students, with reports of antisemitism on campus. However, some believed that the university failed to identify what constitutes hate speech, and that protesters were knowingly violating rules and wanting to be insulated from discipline.
Columbia's protest movement was among the largest in the country, but it was met with a fierce response from authorities. University administrators and law enforcement have handed down disciplinary cases and arrests, suspending and expelling students. The university has also been criticised for not protecting students from prosecution by a hostile government, and for bowing to pressure from the Trump Administration, which rescinded more than $400 million in federal grants due to Columbia's failure to address antisemitism.
Pro-Palestinian groups have accused the university of being exclusively pro-Israel, with a pro-Israel business school professor condemning the university's president as a "coward" for not standing up to "pro-terror" forces on campus. On the other hand, students, faculty, and outsiders aligned with Israel argue that the pro-Palestinian activists' claims to be motivated by concern about genocide are false.
The situation at Columbia University highlights the complexities of balancing free speech and harassment on university campuses. While the university has policies in place to protect free speech, the interpretation and enforcement of these policies have been controversial.
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Antisemitism
Columbia University has been at the centre of protests by pro-Palestinian students. The university has been accused of failing to address antisemitism on campus. The Trump administration pulled federal grant funding from Columbia, citing the university's failure to tackle antisemitism. The university has also been criticised for cracking down on protests and allowing a hostile environment for Jewish students to develop.
In response to these accusations, Columbia released a statement condemning antisemitism and all forms of hate and discrimination. The university has also agreed to tighten its student disciplinary procedures and increase oversight of its Middle Eastern studies programs. Additionally, Columbia removed three administrators who exchanged private text messages with antisemitic sentiments.
Despite these measures, the US Department of Education found that Columbia University failed to meet accreditation standards due to its handling of antisemitism on campus. The university has been accused of acting with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students.
Jewish students have had differing opinions on the matter. Some have expressed concern for their safety and criticised the university's attempts to stifle protests. Others have denied that the pro-Palestine demonstrations are antisemitic, arguing that Jewish student organisations play a central role in them.
The protests have resulted in arrests, campus lockdowns, and disruptions to academic activities. Graduates have booed the university president, expressing their anger and disappointment.
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Discipline and punishment
Columbia University has a history of student protests, with a recent example being the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that occurred in 2024 and 2025. In May 2025, over 65 students were suspended and barred from campus following a pro-Palestinian protest inside the school's main library. The protest caused disruption to other students and resulted in disciplinary action, including interim suspensions and further investigation.
The protest in question involved mask-clad protesters pushing past security and hanging Palestinian flags and banners on bookshelves. Some protesters also scrawled phrases such as "Columbia will burn" on library furniture. This incident is referred to as "Wednesday's disruption" by the university president, who expressed concern for the impact on the community and emphasised the distinction between legitimate protest and actions that endanger others and disrupt university functions.
The disciplinary response to the library protest included suspensions and a review of visa statuses by the US government, which could lead to deportation for international students. The university's response has been criticised for its handling of free speech and protest on campus, with some arguing that Columbia holds pro-Palestinian students to a different standard.
Pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia have also faced accusations of antisemitism, with the Department of Health and Human Services under Donald Trump claiming that the university violated Jewish students' rights. However, a Jewish faculty member, Susan Bernofsky, stated that she did not feel threatened by the protests, although she acknowledged the fine line between criticising Israel and questioning the right of Jewish people to exist.
The disciplinary actions and accusations of antisemitism have resulted in backlash, with students expressing anger towards Columbia administrators at graduation ceremonies. Students have also faced consequences such as arrests, suspensions, and removal from campus, with some reporting a lack of protection from death threats and harassment. The impact of these disciplinary measures and the controversy surrounding the protests have created a fraught atmosphere at Columbia, with some students expressing relief at leaving the university due to their experiences with antisemitism and backlash for their pro-Israel stance.
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Frequently asked questions
Columbia University students have been protesting in support of Palestine and against Columbia University's handling of pro-Palestine activism on campus.
The protests began in 2024, with Columbia professor Susan Bernofsky commenting on the protests on April 25, 2024.
Protesters have staged demonstrations, booed and jeered during speeches, and hung Palestinian flags in campus buildings. Some protesters have also scrawled phrases on campus furniture and picture frames, including "Columbia will burn".
Columbia University suspended over 65 students and barred alums and others who participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration inside the school's main library. The university also received criticism from the Department of Health and Human Services under Donald Trump, which accused Columbia of violating Jewish students' rights.
Some students expressed anger and disappointment towards Columbia administrators during graduation ceremonies, with some burning their diplomas and chanting "Free Mahmoud" in reference to a graduate detained by immigration authorities.
