Columbia University is currently experiencing a tense calm after a group of students camped on campus in support of Gaza occupied one of the campus buildings for almost two weeks. Despite the threat of academic suspension, the campers remained in the 80 remaining tents on Monday. Early on Tuesday, a group of protesters barricaded themselves in Hamilton Hall, a building with a history of lockdowns since the Vietnam War and protests in 1968. The White House condemned the takeover of the building as an inappropriate approach to peaceful protests.
The ongoing protests at Columbia University stem from the previous eviction of a camp two weeks ago, which resulted in over a hundred arrests and sparked further mobilization across the country. The university has tried to avoid involving the police to evict the protesters, as they believe it disrupts normal operations and violates university policy. However, this has led to dozens of arrests as authorities attempt to maintain order on campus.
After occupying Hind Hall, which was previously known as International Center Building, the protesters renamed it in memory of a Palestinian girl who died in Gaza. They have demanded that Columbia University withdraw its investments from companies linked to Israel and end its relationship with Jewish organizations on campus. The university has responded by limiting entry to essential personnel and students living in residence halls only.
As graduation ceremonies approach, NGOs, activist groups, and UN representatives have expressed support for the students’ peaceful protest. They have criticized forceful measures taken by some universities to disperse protests and dismantle camps. The university is carefully considering its next steps to avoid further unrest and maintain peace on campus.
In summary, protests at Columbia University have escalated after an eviction led to hundreds of arrests two weeks ago. The university is trying to avoid involving police while maintaining normal operations but has faced criticism for its response from activist groups and international organizations alike. As graduation ceremonies approach, Columbia University must find a way to resolve this conflict without causing further harm or unrest on campus.