Savanna Hoffman
Protests are a common occurrence at Columbia University, with a long history dating back to the 20th century. The University has witnessed various student movements over the years, with demands ranging from opposition to the Vietnam War and local civil rights issues to more recent protests surrounding the University's response to antisemitism and pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The latest wave of protests began in October 2023, following Hamas' attack on Israel, which sparked pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel demonstrations, leading to a heavy police presence and numerous arrests. The University's handling of these protests has drawn criticism, with allegations of civil rights violations and indifference towards antisemitism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2024-09-03 |
| Number of arrests | 2 |
| Reason | Pro-Palestinian protests |
| Reason | Anti-antisemitism |
| Reason | Condemnation of Hamas attack on Israel |
| Reason | Condemnation of pro-Israel counter-protestors |
| Reason | Condemnation of police raid on pro-Palestinian encampment |
| Reason | Condemnation of Columbia University's response to antisemitism |
| Reason | Condemnation of Columbia University's cancellation of commencement ceremony |
| Reason | Condemnation of Columbia University's handling of student discipline |
| Reason | Opposition to US involvement in Vietnam War |
| Reason | Opposition to US business interests in South Africa |
| Reason | Opposition to Columbia University's investments in South Africa-related companies |
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What You'll Learn
Pro-Palestinian protests
The protests have resulted in clashes with police and arrests. In May 2024, New York City police were called to Columbia's campus to disband the pro-Palestinian encampment and arrest more than 100 protesters. This police raid led to the cancellation of the university's main graduation ceremony. The former president of Columbia University, Minouche Shafik, permitted the police raid and later resigned.
The protests have also resulted in counter-protests from pro-Israel Jewish students, who have expressed concerns about antisemitism on campus. They argue that pro-Palestinian groups have not sufficiently condemned the attack on Israel or its perpetrators. David Lederer, a 22-year-old junior at Columbia University, held a small counter-protest along with a fellow Jewish student outside the university gates. They unfurled a banner that read, "Get Support for Terrorism Off Our Campus".
The Trump administration has accused Columbia University of violating federal civil rights law through its "deliberate indifference" towards the anti-Israel protests. The Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) alleges that Columbia failed to protect Jewish students and allowed a hostile environment to persist. Columbia has also faced financial repercussions, losing $400 million in federal funding due to the administration's budget cuts at universities accused of mishandling antisemitism.
The pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University have sparked a nationwide movement, with similar encampments and protests occurring at other universities across the country, including the University of Southern California, the University of Michigan, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of North Carolina, New York University, Yale University, and Harvard University.
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Concerns of antisemitism
Pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University have sparked concerns about antisemitism on campus. The protests, which began in response to Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023, have resulted in clashes with pro-Israel students and counter-protests.
Some Jewish students at Columbia have expressed concern about antisemitism within the pro-Palestinian movement on campus. They argue that the pro-Palestinian groups have not sufficiently condemned the Hamas attack or its perpetrators and that there is a failure to distinguish between being anti-war and supporting a terrorist organisation.
These concerns were echoed by the Trump administration, which accused Columbia University of violating federal civil rights law through its "deliberate indifference" towards anti-Israel protests. The Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) alleged that Columbia had failed to protect Jewish students from a hostile environment and violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, colour, or national origin, including discrimination based on Israeli or Jewish identity.
The OCR's investigation found that Columbia did not properly investigate or punish acts of vandalism, such as swastikas and other hate images in classrooms, and failed to enforce time, place, and manner restrictions for on-campus protests, particularly in academic buildings and residence halls. As a result of these findings, Columbia University lost $400 million in federal funding from the Trump administration.
In response to these concerns, Columbia University's interim president, Claire Shipman, has taken steps to address antisemitism on campus. One member of the antisemitism task force praised Shipman's swift handling of a pro-Palestinian protest, which led to the suspension of over 65 students. However, the university has also faced criticism, with the Trump administration threatening to implement a consent decree that would allow them to interfere in the university's admissions and curriculum.
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Student arrests
In April 1968, over 700 students occupied five buildings on campus, including Hamilton Hall, in protest against the US government's involvement in the Vietnam War and other civil rights issues. The students also held the acting dean of Columbia College, Henry Coleman, hostage for over 24 hours. All 700+ students were arrested and faced disciplinary action, with 73 ultimately being suspended from the university. The acting president of Columbia University, Andrew W. Cordier, requested "maximum leniency" for the arrested students, and their punishment was reduced to censure.
In 1972, 60 students and community members occupied several buildings, again including Hamilton Hall, in support of anti-war demonstrations. This time, 48 students were charged, but only three were convicted at a disciplinary hearing.
In the spring of 1985, around 300 students blockaded Hamilton Hall for about three weeks, demanding that the university divest from its investments in South Africa-related companies. Fifty-four students received a sentence of one semester of disciplinary warning.
More recently, in May 2024, pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University led to the suspension of over 65 students. The New York Police Department raided a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus and arrested more than 100 protesters. These arrests garnered national attention and sparked protests at other universities across the country.
During a protest at the start of the new term in September 2024, there were at least two arrests, although the police described the day as "peaceful".
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Pro-Israel counter-protests
David Lederer, a Jewish student at Columbia, held a small counter-protest outside the university gates, displaying a banner that read, "Get Support for Terrorism Off Our Campus". Lederer and other pro-Israel students have expressed concerns about antisemitism and the lack of condemnation for terrorist organizations by some pro-Palestinian groups. They distinguish between being anti-war and being pro-terrorist, arguing that support for terrorist organizations has no place at Columbia.
In response to the protests, Columbia's task force on antisemitism issued a report in August 2024, defining antisemitism and outlining the experiences of Jewish and Israeli students on campus. The report found that Jews and Israelis at the university were ostracized from student groups, humiliated in classrooms, and subjected to verbal abuse during the pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The task force's definition of antisemitism includes prejudice, discrimination, hate, or violence directed at Jews and Israelis, as well as double standards applied to Israel and exclusion based on real or perceived ties to the country.
The university has also implemented new guidelines and disciplinary measures to address the protests and counter-protests. However, student organizers on both sides have stated that they will continue their activism, with pro-Palestinian students demanding that the university cut ties with companies linked to Israel, and pro-Israel students calling for a safer learning environment.
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University response
Columbia University has been the site of numerous protests and counter-protests since Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. The university has responded to these demonstrations in various ways, including by increasing security measures, cancelling classes and commencement ceremonies, and involving law enforcement.
In response to the protests, Columbia University spokesperson Samantha Slater released a statement, saying:
> As we begin the new semester, we are focused on our mission of teaching, creating, and advancing knowledge and ensuring a safe, respectful campus environment for our community.
The university has also taken steps to improve its response to future protests, including expanding and training its delegate pool to support freedom of expression while identifying potential violations of the Rules of University Conduct. They have also formed working groups to assess the potential impact of events on academics, physical safety, and the surrounding community, with a commitment to refining their framework and processes based on feedback and ongoing learning.
In addition, Columbia University has appointed a Rules Administrator, Professor Gregory Wawro, to oversee an expanded team that ensures adequate resources are provided for effective administration of the rules. The university has also emphasised the importance of ongoing feedback and evaluation of their public safety efforts.
However, the university has faced criticism and allegations of mishandling antisemitism on campus. The Trump administration accused Columbia of violating federal civil rights law through its "deliberate indifference" towards anti-Israel protests, with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) alleging that the university failed to protect Jewish students and address student-on-student harassment. As a result, Columbia University faced a loss of $400 million in federal funding.
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Frequently asked questions
Students at Columbia University have been protesting against the university's handling of antisemitism on campus. Pro-Palestine groups have allegedly failed to condemn the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
Students are protesting for the university to take action against antisemitism. They are also asking students to remember the Palestinians who died due to US involvement.
Students have been occupying university buildings, setting up encampments, distributing flyers, and chanting. There have also been counter-protests from pro-Israel students.
The university has cancelled in-person classes and graduation ceremonies. The New York Police Department has also been called in to raid the protests, making over 100 arrests.
