2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupations

For 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses, see 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses. For a list of pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the United States, see List of pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the United States in 2024.

2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupation
Part of the pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses, the Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States, and student activism at Columbia University
A scene of the second campus encampment, several days after the NYPD arrested students and removed the first encampment.
DateApril 17, 2024 – June 2, 2024
(1 month, 2 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Columbia University, New York City, New York, United States

40°48′27″N 73°57′43″W / 40.80750°N 73.96194°W / 40.80750; -73.96194
Caused by
GoalsColumbia University's divestment from Israel
Methods
Resulted in
  • Columbia University maintains financial ties with Israeli companies
  • Some student protesters suspended
  • Multiple protesters injured and/or arrested
  • Resignation of Minouche Shafik
Parties

Pro-Palestinian groups:

Gaza Solidarity Encampment:

Supporting groups:

Local and school authorities:

Pro-Israel counterprotesters:

Lead figures

No centralized leadership

Casualties
Injuries
  • 37 protesters injured[1]
  • 9 protesters hospitalized[1]
Arrested232 protesters arrested[a]

A series of occupation protests by pro-Palestinian students occurred at Columbia University in New York City from April to June 2024, in the context of the broader Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States. The protests began on April 17, 2024, when pro-Palestinian students established an encampment of approximately 50 tents on the university campus, calling it the Gaza Solidarity Encampment,[2][3] and demanded the university divest from Israel.

The first encampment was dismantled when university president Minouche Shafik authorized the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to enter the campus on April 18 and conduct mass arrests.[3][4] A new encampment was built the next day. The administration then entered into negotiations with protesters, which failed on April 29 and resulted in the suspension of student protesters.[5] The next day, protesters broke into and occupied Hamilton Hall,[6] leading to a second NYPD raid, the arrest of more than 100 protesters, and the full dismantling of the camp.[7] The arrests marked the first time Columbia allowed police to suppress campus protests since the 1968 demonstrations against the Vietnam War.[8] On May 31, a third campus encampment was briefly established in response to an alumni reunion.[9]

As a result of the protests, Columbia University switched to hybrid learning (incorporating more online learning) for the rest of the semester.[10] The protests encouraged other actions at multiple universities. Several antisemitic incidents took place near the protests.[11] Organizers have said they were the work of outside agitators and non-students.[12] Pro-Palestinian Jewish protesters have said that incidents of antisemitism by protesters are not representative of the protest movement.[11] On May 6, the school administration canceled the university-wide graduation ceremony scheduled for May 15.[13] Shafik announced her resignation from the presidency on August 14.[14]

  1. ^ a b "New York City said 'no injuries' at Columbia arrests; students' medical records say otherwise". Reuters. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  2. ^ Goldstein, Judy. "In Focus: The first 24 hours of the 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment'". Columbia Daily Spectator. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Otterman, Sharon (April 18, 2024). "Columbia Sends In the N.Y.P.D. to Arrest Protesters in Tent City". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Otterman, Sharon; Blinder, Alan (April 18, 2024). "Over 100 Arrested at Columbia After Pro-Palestinian Protest". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference suspend was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference NBCR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Pro-Palestinian Columbia Student Protests Continue After Arrests". TIME. April 19, 2024. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :20 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Egan, Matt; Boyette, Chris; Prokupecz, Shimon; Anderson, Nic F. (April 22, 2024). "Columbia University main campus classes will be hybrid until semester ends; NYU students, faculty arrested during protests". CNN. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Hall, Richard (April 25, 2024). "Jewish student protesters say Columbia's pro-Palestine protests aren't antisemitic". The Independent. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  12. ^ Thakker, Prem (April 22, 2024). "Columbia Law School Faculty Condemn Administration for Mass Arrests and Suspensions". The Intercept. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  13. ^ Ramsey, Khalifeh (May 6, 2024). "Columbia cancels main graduation ceremony after campus protests". Gothamist. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Moshtaghian, Artemis (August 15, 2024). "Columbia President Minouche Shafik steps down | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved August 15, 2024.


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