2024 Columbia University campus occupation
On 17 April 2024, students at Columbia University in New York City started an occupation protest against the Israel–Gaza war (2023-2024). They initially set up an encampment on the university campus with about 50 tents and called it the Gaza Solidarity Encampment.[1][2] They demanded the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel.[3]
The encampment was forcibly dismantled the next day when university president Minouche Shafik authorized the New York City Police Department to storm campus and conduct mass arrests, but it has been restored afterwards.[2][4] On 30 April 2024, the encampment has been dissovled by the police for the second time.[5]
This was first time the Columbia University has allowed police to suppress campus protests since the 1968 protests against the Vietnam War.[6] The police action at Columbia University led to similar protests at other universites in the United States.[7] The university adminstration's handling of the protest has been severly criticized – with different reasoning – by lawmakers from the Republicans as well as Democrats.[8][9]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "In Focus: The first 24 hours of the 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment'". www.columbiaspectator.com. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Columbia Sends In the N.Y.P.D. to Arrest Protesters in Tent City". The New York Times. 18 April 2024. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ↑ "Hundreds of protesters occupy South Lawn, call for divestment from Israel during Shafik testimony". www.columbiaspectator.com. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ↑ "Over 100 Arrested at Columbia After Pro-Palestinian Protest". The New York Times. 18 April 2024. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ↑ "Police arrest dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University". www.reuters.com. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ↑ "Pro-Palestinian Columbia Student Protests Continue After Arrests". time.com. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ↑ "Gaza protests: Police raid on Columbia protest ignited campus movement". www.bbc.com. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ↑ "Mike Johnson calls for Columbia University president Minouche Shafik to resign: 'Very weak, inept leader'". www.hindustantimes.com. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ↑ "Columbia president Minouche Shafik faces criticism in all directions". edition.cnn.com. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.