Students at Columbia University have taken a stand in support of Palestinians, sparking a wave of protests and unrest on college campuses across the United States. The occupation of a university building by students has led to clashes with authorities and calls for their eviction.
The demonstrations, which have been described as the most significant unrest on US college campuses since the Vietnam war protests, have resulted in hundreds of arrests of students and activists. Despite threats of expulsion and suspensions, many protesters have vowed to continue their actions.
The protesters, wearing Palestinian keffiyeh headscarves, have barricaded themselves inside the building, refusing to leave until their demands are met. They are calling for the university to divest all financial holdings linked to Israel, a demand that has been rejected by the school’s president.
The situation has escalated as police patrol the entrances to the prestigious university, with President Joe Biden’s White House criticizing the seizure of the building as “absolutely the wrong approach.” The protests have raised concerns about free speech rights and accusations of anti-Semitism, with university administrators struggling to balance these issues.
As tensions continue to rise, clashes between protesters and police have occurred at various campuses, leading to arrests and the dismantling of encampments. The unrest shows no signs of abating, with protesters determined to stand their ground and fight for their cause.