Elite Columbia students arrested and expelled for pro-Palestine protest

The atmosphere smells of gunpowder Columbia University, New York ahead of the Jewish Passover as a rabbi associated with the elite educational institution called on Jewish students to return home, amid intense campus confrontations that have, in fact, reached such proportions that the White House and officials of the state.

THE atmosphere in the university institution, in fact, is so charged that, the rector’s authorities announced that, from Monday (22/04), Columbia will operate with a telework regime – for the attendance of the courses and also the examination that begins with the Jewish Passover. After October 7th, at Columbia and many other US universities, the tensions are continuous. The situation, however, at New York University escalated further in recent days after a group of university students testified to Congress about anti-Semitism on campus and the pro-Palestinian demonstrations in and near the campus.

The last crisis resulted in receivingthe president of the foundation, Minouse Shafik, has been attacked again – from the Republican MP Elise Stefanik which demanded the resignation of the university professor because of which, she claimed, “the university administration has clearly lost control of the campus.” On Sunday (21/04) the Republican chairwoman of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives, Virginia Foxxsent a letter to the rectory authorities, warning them that if they do not take care to limit protests on campusthere will be consequences. Among other things, Foxx noted that, “the Columbia is unable to immediately restore order and security on campus. This failure constitutes a significant violation of the university’s obligations under title VI, upon which federal financial aid is contingent. The restoration must be immediate.”

“Return to your homes as soon as possible”

On his part, Rabbi Elie Buechler, affiliated with the Orthodox Union Jewish Learning Initiative on Columbia’s campus confirmed to CNN’s Jake Tapper that he did send a message to an associated WhatsApp group, which includes about 300 ultra-orthodox Jewish students, recommending them “imperatively” to return to their homes and remain there. The rabbi in his message emphasized that the recent events at the university “have made it clear that Columbia Public Safety and the New York Police Department are unable to guarantee the safety of Jewish students. It is with deep sorrow that I would recommend that you return to your homes as soon as possible and remain there until the reality in and around the campus improves.”

President Biden and the White House speak of “anti-Semitism”.

Even O White House was placed on the situation in Columbia, with a statement he issued. “While every American citizen has the right to peaceful protest, incitement to violence or intimidation aimed at Jewish students and the Jewish community is blatantly anti-Semitic, unconscionable and dangerous,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said Sunday. However, in the statement, no examples of such motivations were cited. On his part, Mr joe biden, stated that, “even in recent days we see harassment and calls for violence against the Jews. This blatant anti-Semitism is reprehensible and dangerous – and has absolutely no place on college campuses or anywhere in our country.”

The organizers of the protestColumbia University Apartheid Divest and Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said in a statement that “we were peaceful” while distancing themselves from non-student protesters who have gathered outside the campus, calling them “inflammatory persons who do not represent us”. “We strongly reject any form of hatred or bigotry and are vigilant against non-students who seek to disrupt the solidarity built between the student community and Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, black and pro-Palestinian fellow students and colleagues who represent the multiculturalism of our country.” , the student organizations note in their statement.

On her part, New York’s Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, placed at X emphasizing that the threat of violence against Jewish students constitutes anti-Semitism. “The First Amendment protects the right to protest, but students also have the right to learn in an environment free of threats or violence,” he noted.

On the part of mayor of the American city, Eric Adams, in a statement he announced that the New York Police Department has taken care of the “increased police presence” in the area around the university campus, “for the protection of students and all New Yorkers on nearby public roads.” He, also a Democrat, added that he feels “horrified and disgusted with him anti-Semitism that makes its presence felt on and around the Columbia campus.”

THE a university spokesman told CNN on Sunday that the safety of the Columbia community is our “number one priority.” He added that, “we act with Jewish students in mind us and are providing additional support and resources to ensure our community remains safe.”

“We do not believe that Jewish students should leave campus”

Contrary to Rabbi Buechler’s plea, the Hillel, which is the largest Jewish university organization in the world, in her post on X noted that, “we do not believe that Jewish students should leave campus.” As he emphasizes, “we are living in a time of genuine discomfort, even fear, for many of us on campus. Columbia University and New York State should do more to protect students. We call on the university administration to act immediately to restore calm within the university premises. The state needs to make sure that students can walk down Broadway and Amsterdam without fear of being harassed.”

Throughout the Jewish Passover, the police presence around the Kraft Centera Jewish cultural center shared by Columbia and Barnard universities, will be increased, while campus public safety will provide a pedestrian escort to and from the building, according to the center’s executive director, Brian Cohen.

Another Jewish organization at the university, Chabad, was reported to have deployed extra security to protect students at the same time. They reported that I feltThey were horrified by what we saw last night on and around Columbia’s campus,” but still hold Easter celebrations on campus. Apart from the student protests, however, groups of demonstrators have also gathered outside the campus gates.

Dozens of student expulsions – Among them the daughter of a Democratic senator

At the same time, Barnard University suspended her 21-year-old student Isra Hirsi for her participation in the Gaza solidarity camp, held at the neighboring Columbia facility. The news was announced by Hirsi herself, with a post on Instagram. THE student is the daughter of Muslim Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar. The students’ camp started early on Wednesday (17/04).

According to social media posts, at noon on Thursday (04/18), Columbia President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, who just hours before attended a congressional hearing on anti-Semitism on college campuses, sent an e-mail to university community, informing them that he has officially filed a complaint with the New York Police Department to enter university premises, in order to dismantle the pro-Palestinian camp. The police brought in about 100 students. Hirsi, returning from the police station to the student residences, was told that she had to leave her room. “I think there was some misunderstanding about what was going on in the solidarity camp. Many spoke of non-peaceful protest. We started early on Wednesday. By the time the members of the university community woke up, we had people coming to talk to us, to see what was going on, to support us. Some professors also came to talk to us. It was a really beautiful moment – ​​so many people contributed, donating to Gaza, bringing us food or blankets. The on Wednesday night an amazing crowd of solidarity he came to our side making us feel stronger. We had a core group of people who understood the risks. That the number of participants increased greatly relieved us. We felt like we weren’t alone,” she told Teen Vogue. As he added, “on Thursday morning I received an email from the university administration, which informed me that they have an obligation to “ensure the physical or emotional safety and well-being of students” in cases where some students “constantly pose a threat of disruption or interference in smooth operation of the institution”. I think they have misrepresented the facts. The university administration tried to portray it as a mass riot instead of a place to build a sense of community.”