A group of people marched around the main gate of Columbia University on Monday afternoon, continuing to sway, pounding the big drums and chanting “Long Live the Intifada.”
Their actions come shortly after Columbia University professors retained what they call “emergency vigils,” in response to university agreements to implement many policy changes, including overhauling rules for protests and implementing an immediate review of the Middle East Research Division following requests from the Trump administration.
The group has gathered outside the university gates on 116th Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue and holds signs of reading “Defend Defend Democracy”, “Defend Teaching”, “Columbia, Fight Back.”
The arrest of prominent permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent anti-Israel activist and federal immigration officials, was mentioned, but activists took advantage of the opportunity to talk about many complaints at school.
Columbia University succumbs to the demands of Trump administrators who have revoked $400 million in federal funding
Virginia Page Fortna, a professor at Columbia’s Faculty of Politics, spoke on an “emergency vigil” outside the university’s gates to protest recent policy changes. (Fox)
“Now, the Trump administration is attacking Columbia as a target to force other universities in line with the Trump administration’s authoritarian regime,” Lisa L. Lieberwitz, a professor of labor and employment law at Cornell University, said at a press conference.
She added that one of her international graduate students is “now hunted by federal immigration authorities.”
The video shows the arrest of Colombian anti-Israel ring leader Mahmoud Khalil
Anya Shiffrin, a technology, media and communications expert at Columbia University’s Faculty of International Public Relations, gave a speech on “Emergency Vigil.” (Fox)
Protesters also took part in social media to urge students and teachers not to show up at school or at work, and to wear masks to protest the ban on masks.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration pulled out $400 million in research grants and other funding on how the university handled protests against Israeli military campaign in Gaza. To consider restoring these funds and billions with future grants, federal authorities have called for nine separate changes to the university’s academic and security policies.
On Sunday, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon appeared on CNN’s “Unionalized States” and said Columbia University was “on the right track” to restore federal funds after Columbia agreed to implement many of the policy changes the Trump administration demanded.
McMahon described his “great conversation” with Katrina Armstrong, interim president of Colombia. He announced Friday that the university will place its Middle East Studies Department under new supervision and review rules for protest and student discipline. They also agreed to adopt a new definition of anti-Semitism and expand “intellectual diversity” by staffing Israeli and Jewish research labs.
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“She said she knew this was her responsibility to make sure the kids on her campus were safe,” McMahon said. “She wanted to make sure there was no discrimination of any kind. She wanted to address the systemic issues identified in relation to campus anti-Semitism.”
Sandy Ibrahim of Fox News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
