Douglas Olsen
Students at Columbia University have been protesting against the university's ties to Israel amid its war on Gaza. In May 2025, more than 70 pro-Palestine protesters occupied a library reading room, leading to their arrest and suspension from the university. The university has been criticised for its harsh punishments and violation of due process, with some claiming that the disciplinary actions were influenced by political forces. Columbia University has a history of student protests, including demonstrations during the Gaza War and occupations of buildings in the 1960s and 1970s to protest the US government's involvement in the Vietnam War.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | April 17, 2024 |
| Location | East Butler Lawn, Morningside campus |
| Number of Tents | 50 |
| Participants | Pro-Palestine students |
| Demands | University to divest from Israel |
| Response | NYPD was called in to conduct arrests |
| Outcome | Proliferation of Palestine solidarity encampments at over 180 universities worldwide |
| Recent Developments | May 7, 2025: More than 70 pro-Palestine protesters occupied a library reading room, leading to suspensions and evictions |
| Notable Participants | Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate and protest leader |
| Previous Protests | 1968, 1972, 1985: Protests against U.S. involvement in Vietnam War and investments in South Africa-related companies |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Pro-Palestinian protests
The university responded by authorizing the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to enter the campus and conduct mass arrests. Students then occupied the adjacent lawn, establishing a new encampment. Pro-Palestinian activists at Columbia have stated that their movement is anti-Zionist, and protests have been organized by anti-Zionist groups. Stanford University students established the first pro-Palestine university encampment on October 20, 2023, which lasted over 100 days.
Pro-Israel counter-protesters have also been present at Columbia University. During a protest on November 9, 2023, a student on the outskirts unaffiliated with any student group shouted antisemitic curses and was shouted down by pro-Palestinian protesters. However, the university cited this incident as a violation of its rules, suspending the student groups SJP and JVP.
In 2025, Columbia University called the NYPD to arrest more than 70 pro-Palestine protesters who had occupied a library reading room. The university and its affiliate Barnard College suspended several students who had been present, including those who were studying in the library at the time. Some students who were not protesting had their suspensions rescinded. The Trump administration threatened to cut Columbia's federal funding and instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain and deport international students who participated in the protests.
Duquesne University: Student Population and Campus Life
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Anti-Israel protests
Columbia University has been the site of several anti-Israel protests in recent years, with students demanding that the university divest from Israel. The protests have been led by pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist groups and have resulted in arrests and disciplinary action from the university.
The first major anti-Israel protest at Columbia University occurred in April 2024, when pro-Palestinian students established a Gaza Solidarity Encampment on the university's Morningside campus. The students demanded that the university divest from Israel and called for an end to the Gaza war. The encampment led to the proliferation of similar Palestine solidarity encampments at universities worldwide. However, the university president authorised the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to enter the campus and conduct mass arrests, dismantling the first encampment.
In May 2025, Columbia University again made headlines when pro-Palestinian protesters occupied part of the main library on campus. The university called the NYPD to arrest the protesters, and more than 70 individuals were arrested. The university and its affiliate, Barnard College, suspended several students who were present in the library, including students who were not actively protesting. This incident sparked criticism from faculty members and free speech advocates, who argued that the university's response endangered academic freedom and campus expression.
The anti-Israel protests at Columbia University have also had broader implications for the institution. In March 2025, the university's interim president, Katrina Armstrong, stepped down amid intense pressure from the government and rights advocates over the university's response to the previous year's pro-Palestinian protests. The Trump administration cancelled $400 million in federal funding for Columbia, accusing the university of failing to combat antisemitism and ensure student safety during the campus protests against Israel.
The protests at Columbia University reflect a broader trend of pro-Palestinian sentiment and activism on university campuses across the United States. Students have demanded that their colleges divest from companies with ties to Israel and have expressed solidarity with Palestinians in the context of the Gaza war. The protests have also sparked debates around free speech, academic freedom, and the role of universities in addressing social and political issues.
MICA Students Accessing University of Baltimore's Library Collection
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Student suspensions
Columbia University has a long history of student protests, with students occupying buildings and clashing with security officials. In 1968, over 700 students occupied five buildings on campus, including Hamilton Hall, and held the acting dean of Columbia College, Henry Coleman, hostage for over 24 hours. In response, 73 students were suspended. In 1972, a similar incident occurred when over 60 Columbia students and community members occupied several buildings, demanding the immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam. This time, 48 students were charged, and only three were convicted at a disciplinary hearing.
More recently, in 2024, pro-Palestinian students at Columbia University established the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, demanding that the university divest from Israel. The university president authorised the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to enter the campus and conduct mass arrests, which led to the proliferation of similar Palestine solidarity encampments at universities worldwide. In 2025, Columbia University again made headlines when more than 100 masked anti-Israel agitators stormed the Butler Library, leading to the arrest of over 80 people, including students and journalists.
The university's handling of the 2025 protests has been controversial, with some students who were studying in the library at the time of the occupation receiving immediate suspensions before being given a chance to respond. This has been criticised by faculty members as a violation of due process, with one professor describing the punishments as "hasty" and indicative of a "guilty until proven innocent" mentality. Some of the students who were not protesting had their suspensions rescinded, but others, like Moosa, remained under the threat of further sanctions.
The Columbia University protests have also drawn attention due to the involvement of prominent figures, such as Maggie Gyllenhaal's daughter, Ramona Sarsgaard, and the Trump administration's response. The Trump administration had previously revoked $400 million in federal funding from the university, citing a failure to fight antisemitism on campus. The university's actions have been viewed as a result of this pressure, with some critics alleging that Columbia has caved to these demands rather than prioritising the well-being of its community.
MRU Scholarships: International Students' Opportunities
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Police involvement
On April 17, 2024, pro-Palestinian students established approximately 50 tents on the East Butler Lawn of the university's Morningside campus, calling for the university to divest from Israel. In response, Columbia University president Minouche Shafik authorised the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to enter the campus and conduct mass arrests, resulting in the dispersal of the first encampment. However, students quickly established a new encampment on the adjacent lawn, demonstrating their determination to continue their protest.
During subsequent protests, Columbia University students have faced arrest and disciplinary action from law enforcement. In May 2025, the NYPD arrested more than 70 pro-Palestine protesters who had occupied a library reading room on campus. Among those arrested were not only protesters but also students who happened to be studying in the library at the time. This heavy-handed response from the NYPD resulted in the suspension of several students, including journalists, by Columbia University and its affiliate Barnard College.
The involvement of the NYPD in campus protests has been a source of tension and controversy. In some cases, students have been subjected to racial profiling, false accusations, and disciplinary actions without due process. The university's response to protests has been influenced by external political forces, such as the Trump administration's criticism of Columbia University's handling of antisemitism on campus, which resulted in the revocation of $400 million in federal funding.
Additionally, the role of law enforcement in student protests at Columbia University extends beyond the NYPD. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has monitored protests, threatening to revoke the visas of foreign students involved in unlawful activities. The involvement of ICE adds a layer of complexity to the police presence on campus, raising concerns about the targeting of non-citizen students.
In summary, police involvement in student protests at Columbia University has been significant, with the NYPD and other law enforcement agencies playing a central role in managing and suppressing demonstrations. The use of arrests, disciplinary actions, and external political pressures has created a challenging environment for students engaging in activism on campus.
University of London: Open to International Students?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Government intervention
Student protests have been a common occurrence at Columbia University, with a range of issues being raised over the years. In the spring of 1985, students protested against the university's investments in South Africa-related companies, and in 2024, pro-Palestine students established an encampment on campus, demanding that the university divest from Israel. More recently, in 2025, Columbia University students protested against the university's ties to Israel and its failure to protect students from antisemitism.
Law Enforcement Involvement:
- New York Police Department (NYPD): The NYPD has been involved in multiple instances of student protests at Columbia University. In 1968, during the occupation of university buildings, the NYPD made arrests and worked with university officials to restore order. More recently, in 2025, the NYPD was called in by the university to arrest pro-Palestine protesters who had occupied a library reading room.
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): During the 2025 protests, ICE monitored the situation and stated their intention to determine the citizenship status of arrested protesters. This intervention raised concerns about the profiling of foreign students and the potential revocation of visas for non-citizens involved in the protests.
Federal Funding and Political Pressure:
- Federal Funding Cuts: The Trump administration has intervened in the Columbia University protests by leveraging federal funding. In March 2025, the administration canceled $400 million in grants to the university, citing a failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitism and a rise in antisemitism on campus. This financial pressure led to Columbia University caving to certain demands and considering layoffs for staff members.
- Political Statements: Government officials have made public statements regarding the protests. For example, New York City Mayor Eric Adams commented on the balance between students' right to free speech and maintaining order on campus. Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened visa revocations for foreign students involved in protests, stating that "pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation."
Disciplinary Actions and Legal Consequences:
- Disciplinary Processes: The government has intervened in the disciplinary processes following student protests. In 1968, the Acting President of Columbia University, Andrew W. Cordier, requested "maximum leniency" for students arrested during the protests, and some disciplinary penalties were reduced. In more recent protests, the university's Judicial Board issued sanctions ranging from suspensions to expulsions for students who participated in pro-Palestine demonstrations.
- Legal Proceedings: Government agencies have been involved in legal proceedings related to student protests. For example, the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia campus activist, by federal immigration authorities, and his subsequent detention raised questions about free speech and the legal process for deporting permanent residents.
The government's intervention in the Columbia University protests has included law enforcement involvement, the use of federal funding cuts as leverage, and disciplinary actions with legal consequences. While maintaining order and upholding the law are important, it is crucial for the government to respect the rights of students to freely express their views and engage in peaceful protests without fear of undue repercussions.
Students Biking to University: A Common Practice?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Columbia University students have been protesting against the university's ties to Israel amid its war on Gaza.
The protests began on April 17, 2024, when pro-Palestinian students set up around 50 tents on the East Butler Lawn of the university's Morningside campus.
The protesters are demanding that the university divest from Israel. They have also called for the university to stop investing in South Africa-related companies.
The university administration has called in the New York Police Department (NYPD) to arrest protesters and has suspended and expelled some students. The Trump administration has also pulled $400 million in federal funding from the university, citing a failure to fight antisemitism on campus.
Yes, there have been several other instances of student protests at Columbia University. For example, in 1968, students protested against the U.S. government's involvement in the Vietnam War and the university's plans to build a neighbourhood gym that would have excluded Black Harlem residents.
