Pro-Palestine Protests Resume at Columbia University
Pro-Palestine Protests Resume at Columbia University
The Facts
The anti-Israel-Hamas war protests that swept US campuses in spring returned to Columbia University in New York on Tuesday, the first day of a new academic term.Protests against the war in Gaza that swept US campuses in spring returned to Columbia University in New York on Tuesday, the first day of a new academic term.
Students reportedly picketed and protested in solidarity with Palestine, demanding that the university divest from "all forms of settler-colonial violence."
The Spin
RenewedThese renewed student protests are morally justified, asand they continue the long-standing tradition of civic engagement on college campuses. They serve as a vital platform for students to voice concerns about critical global issues, such as the conflict in Gaza. Nonviolent protests also challenge students to engage with complex topics, fostering critical thinking, and political awareness. By allowing on-campus demonstratorsdemonstrations, universities upholdare upholding their mission to develop engaged citizens and contribute to societal good.
CampusRecent campus protests of the recent past against the Gaza conflict have infringed on students' rights to safety and education, forcing class cancellations and driving some students off campus. They went beyond expressing views or calling for policy changes, andescalating escalated to antisemitic rhetoric and threats that should not be tolerated in any academic setting. University leaders must protectprioritize the protection of all students and maintainmaintenance of order on campus.
