Recap of Campus Protests Across the Country
Columbia University was one of the first institutions to spark the nationwide college student protests Photo by Alexa Blair Wilkinson
At Columbia University in New York City starting on April 17, students held a pro-Palestine sit-in on the South Lawn of the campus to protest the university's financial and educational involvement with Israel, leading to colleges and universities nationally to protest in solidarity.
The encampment was created by student-led coalitions with affiliations to national organizations with Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voices for Peace and Columbia University Apartheid Divest, as reported by CNN.
Those occupying the lawn were ordered to disperse by Columbia’s president Nemat “Michouce” Shafik, who ordered the New York Police Department to clear the encampment and authorized arrests of those on the lawn, including Columbia students. Videos and images online show the arrests being made.
The NYPD held a press conference on April 22 stating that they are no longer able to operate on campus due to the university’s status as a private campus, but have maintained a “large presence” around the campus.
Prior to this announcement, the NYPD arrested 108 people during the pro-Palestinian protests on the campus and dismantled the encampments. However, the encampment returned with a video from CUAD showing the new encampment, stating, “We remain steadfast in our commitment to Palestinian liberation by fighting for divestment, amnesty, and end to complicity.”
The demands of CUAD with support from the other organizations present include, “The divestment of all funds, including endowments, from corporations that profit from Israel apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine,” “Complete transparency for all of Columbia’s financial investments” and “Amnesty for all students and faculty disciplined or fired in the movement for Palestinian liberation.”
Thus far, a “Divestment Referendum” was passed in response to these protests and of Columbia’s involvement with Israel, including voting to begin financial divestment, canceling the Tel Aviv Global Center and ending the dual-degree option with Tel Aviv University. This referendum only takes effect once the university board accepts or vetoes the referendum.
Additionally, several colleges and universities have begun their own protests and encampments in solidarity with Columbia with arrests and violent altercations between police and protesters occurring at Emory University, New York University, Yale, University of Texas and many others as the Associated Press reports. Encampments and protests have started at universities internationally with solidarity protests in Europe, Al Jazeera reports.
Some administrations have ordered police in riot gear to disperse protesters, engaging in mass arrests of protesters with some violent arrests occurring. Police tased one student at Emory with several officers restraining the individual and snipers were allegedly stationed on top of buildings at Ohio State as New York Magazine reports.
Professors have fallen into the mix of those arrested alongside their students. Emory University’s Philosophy Department Chair, Noelle McAfee was filmed being arrested. Another Emory professor from the economics department, Caroline Fohlin, was also arrested and taken to the ground by police.
Due to the ongoing protests and tensions, some schools – like Columbia – have already shifted to hybrid classes. They called this on for safety concerns for the campus, students will also be able to take their upcoming finals online. The University of Southern California (USC) canceled its undergraduate graduation ceremony in response to campus protests around the cancellation of valedictorian Asna Tabassum’s speech as reported by KTLA.
University of Michigan, on the other hand, has found their balance for their upcoming ceremony. Protests are alright away from the main festivities, but banners and flags are off the table for onlookers and students.
For many students, these protests don’t phase them to come onto campus while others are steering clear of the action.
“I don't feel particularly safe just walking around the area, because of the sheer number of cops,” said Columbia University student Sofia Ongele to the Washington Post. She’s been participating in the encampments with her fellow peers, but the police presence has been shaking her up.
From a research report published by the Chicago Project of Security and Threats (CPOST), they found that 56% of Jewish students, 52% of Muslim students and 16% of other college students felt in personal danger as a result of what has come about since Oct. 7.
Federal officials have weighed in on the protests with House Speaker Mike Johnson demanding President Joe Biden send National Guard troops to Columbia during his appearance on campus on April 24, according to Politico. The White House responded to his comment by Johnson stating it was not an issue for the president to address as reported by The Hill. Republicans and Democrats at the state and federal level have fallen on partisan lines within their support for student protesters as Politico reports.