(Image via msn.com)

Staff Writer: Gwen Pichette

Email: gpichette@umassd.edu

Protests and encampments which were originally only at Columbia University in protest of the war and genocide in Gaza that have resulted in hundreds of arrests, have now spread like wildfire to other universities. 

The protests have occurred at universities across the country, from NYU to Yale, to the University of Illinois, and farther out west to the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of South Carolina. 

Why did the protests start at Columbia University in the first place? 

Protests started at Columbia University initially because of their known affiliations to funding war operations in Israel—operations that have killed over 34,000 Palestinians. 

The campus remains staunchly divided: pro-Palestinian protestors demanding that the New York school divest of the campus funds they have provided for Israeli operations, while counter-protests in support of Israel have also begun, fighting against an alleged rise in antisemitism on campus as a result of the protests.

Billionaires have also halted their whopping donations to the Ivy League School.

One such billionaire is Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, who has donated close to $100 million to the university over the years. His funds have also notably gone to creating a center for Jewish students. But in light of recent events, he has proclaimed that he is stopping his generous donations to the school for the foreseeable future. 

“I am deeply saddened at the virulent hate that continues to grow on campus and throughout our country. I am no longer confident that Columbia can protect its students and staff and I am not comfortable supporting the university until corrective action is taken.”

The White House has also condemned the protests as “blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable and dangerous’ for the Jewish students on campus. 

One anti-Semitic incident that was reported was that an unnamed Jewish student was given a death threat, and then kicked in the stomach repeatedly by a pro-Palestinian protestor. Other pro-Palestinian protests were reportedly accused of chanting anti-Semitic things to Jewish students. 

However, other pro-Palestinian protestors are furious that many of the protests have turned hateful, claiming instead that they were originally meant to be a peaceful demonstration for those suffering in Gaza.

Commissioner of the New York Police Department, Kaz Daughtery, agrees. 

She claims that “what may have started as a group of Columbia students wanting to express their constitutional right to protest has drawn crowds of outside agitators who are trying to hijack a peaceful protest and turn it into something far more sinister.”

Despite this, many demonstrations and protests appear to remain peaceful.

One such demonstration was led by Jewish Columbia graduate student, Jared Kannel, who came to campus in support of Palestine, while also celebrating the Jewish holiday of Passover, which runs from April 22nd to April 30th. He took to a CNN interview to talk about his unique experiences with participating in the Pro-Palestine efforts as a Jewish person, as many would assume he would be in support of Israel:

“I had seen so many statements online about how Jews weren’t safe, about how Columbia had turned into a hotbed of anti-semitism. Each of those statements further galvanized me to use my voice and my privilege as a Jewish person to come here and have a seder with all of these lovely people. It’s important to stand up for oppressed people everywhere, whether they’re Jewish or not.” 

Kannel is shown in a video huddled with Jewish and non-Jewish students, sharing traditional Passover food and reading Jewish scripture—all while also holding several pro-Palestine signs. 

While there have certainly been demonstrations in the community during this tumultuous time, the fact remains that the protests have also resulted in hundreds of arrests and even some hospitalizations. 

Lawmakers continue to urge college administrators to reign in the protests in the name of campus safety. 

In response, the university has made several threats towards protestors to clear their encampments. 

The university’s most recent ultimatum was for the protestors to vacate school grounds by 2 P.M. on Monday, April 29th, or risk an investigation and immediate suspension. 

Yet in what is now the second week of encampments, protestors have decided to stay firmly put. 

This is shocking to many, considering that Columbia University is a prestigious Ivy League School, with a mere acceptance rate of 7%. This means that participants could be risking their enrollment in an institution that was already extremely difficult to get into.

Such a sacrifice certainly did not go unnoticed by Palestinians. 

A video from a Shaboura Refugee Camp in Rafa shows children clustered together and holding banners to express their gratitude for the protests at US universities. One banner reads, “Students of Columbia University, continue to stand by us.” 

Another sign reads “Violating our right to education and life is a war crime,” referring to the destruction of their own schools that have been bombed by Israel. 

As destruction continues to rage on in Gaza, so do protests at campuses across the US. 

As of yet, no compromise has been reached between protestors and administrators at Columbia, and tensions are at an all-time high.