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Two major US universities are in disarray as administrators contend with pro-Palestinian protests and concerns from Jewish students about antisemitic harassment.
Students at Columbia University ramped up pro-Palestinian protests and encampments last week after school officials testified before Congress about potential antisemitism on their campus and escalating tensions.
The school has moved classes online amid growing tensions, with pro-Palestinian students protesting and staging encampments as some Jewish students say they feel unsafe on campus.
The New York Police Department arrested some 100 students last week. Police Chief John Chell later noted that the students who were arrested “were peaceful…and were saying what they wanted to say in a peaceful manner,” per the Columbia Spectator.
A rabbi affiliated with the school has also told a group of nearly 300 Jewish students to go home until tensions improved. The message came ahead of Passover, which began Monday.
Meanwhile, at least 45 people have been arrested at Yale University amid similar protests staged by some 200 students.
Yale president Peter Salovey previously sent students an email late on Sunday warning the school “will pursue disciplinary actions according to its policies” amid ongoing demonstrations.
Columbia professor and journalist say no violence during student protests
Keith Gessen, a professor for Columbia Journalism School, backed up an NBC News correspondent who reported she did not see any violence or aggression at the school’s pro-Palestine encampments late last week.
“Our team spent long hours reporting on and around Columbia’s campus on Thursday & Friday…I didn’t see a single instance of violence or aggression on the lawn or at the student encampment,” Antonia Hylton of NBC News wrote on X.
“If you’re watching or sharing videos from the last few days, provide context,” she continued. “The public protests happening on the street are not the same as the encampment inside. Don’t imply students at Columbia/Barnard are involved in events that they were not present or responsible for.”
Mr Gessen re-tweeted her, noting her reporting “is correct.”
These comments come after Columbia University’s president called in the New York Police Department late last week. Officers arrested some 100 students.
Police Chief John Chell later noted that the students who were arrested “were peaceful…and were saying what they wanted to say in a peaceful manner,” per the Columbia Spectator.
Katie Hawkinson22 April 2024 15:36
Congresswoman’s daughter arrested in Columbia protests
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s daughter was one of several students arrested amid the pro-Palestinian protests staged by Columbia University and Barnard College students last week.
Isra Hirsi, daughter of the progressive congresswoman from Minnesota, said she had no disciplinary record prior to her arrest.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a fellow progressive representative and ally to Ms Omar, criticised her arrest.
“What is going on here @BarnardCollege @Columbia?” Ms Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. “How does a student with no disciplinary record suddenly get to a suspension less than 24 hours after a nonviolent protest?”
Katie Hawkinson22 April 2024 15:30
Columbia classes go virtual as Rabbi worries school ‘can’t keep Jewish students safe’ amid Israel-Gaza protests
Over the weekend, student-led protest encampments attracted national attention, leading to more pro-Palestinian protests taking place outside of the closed campus and a police presence. Students on colleges and universities have initiated protests in solidarity.
But as tensions mount, some Jewish students have reported antisemitic harassment toward them.
One video, posted on X, showed a masked protestor telling a student to, “Go back to Poland”. A rabbi affiliated with the school told a group of nearly 300 Jewish students to go home until tensions improved.
Ariana Baio has the story:
Katie Hawkinson22 April 2024 15:15
At least 16 arrested at Yale University after riot police storm campus during pro-Palestinian protest
The arrests happened after nearly pro-Palestine 200 protestors gathered on campus to urge Yale to divest from military weapons manufacturers, the independent Yale Daily News reported on Monday morning.
The protestors had been camped out on Beinecke Plaza on Yale University’s campus for three days.
Cops first began by warning protestors they risked being arrested if they didn’t clear out before cuffing and arresting a handful of people – including students, according to Yale Daily News.
Read more from Martha McHardy:
Katie Hawkinson22 April 2024 14:56
