Inside the Columbia Encampment as Pro-Palestinian Protests Rock Campus | WSJ News

After months of demonstrations against the war in Gaza, the unrest reached a boiling point in the final weeks of the school year at Columbia University. WSJ's Erin Ailworth visited the school’s tent encampment to hear from students. Photo: Sarah Blesener
#columbia #university #protest #wsj

[@peacekeeper4654]

I was was trying to figure out why the students are protesting. It is difficult to understand for the average person like me what is happening. After much internet research here is the truth: The student protesters want the university's endowment fund (worth US$13.6B) to divest investments held in weapons manufacturers and tech companies with ties to Israel, profiting from Israel's apartheid, genocide, and military occupation of Palestine. Columbia University students have a history of activism and action taken here often spreads to other Ivy league schools. This is what Israeli leadership is afraid of. In April 1985, students led a three-week student demonstration against Columbia's investments in South Africa, the New York Times reported at the time. The demonstration involved around 150 students blocking access to the entrance of a campus building. Months after that protest, trustees voted to sell the majority of Columbia's stock in American companies doing business in South Africa.

[@JeffEbe-te2xs]

Bet their dads / trust funds invest in these companies

[@eleazarguerra884]

ARE this students receiving loan Forgiveness from Joe

[@michaelattia9834]

Israel is receiving billions of dollars in American aid.

[@muhammedhajat9391]

"Stop FUNDING these students. Stop the ILLEGAL OCCUPATION of Universities" Yet you okay with US tax money FUNDING a forreign state And you okay with the 75 year ILLEGAL OCCUPATION of Palestine.

[@muhammedhajat9391]

"Stop FUNDING these students. Stop the ILLEGAL OCCUPATION of Universities" Yet you okay with US tax money FUNDING a forreign state And you okay with the 75 year ILLEGAL OCCUPATION of Palestine.

[@deardady3553]

What a beautiful sign of human right!

[@barak9966]

Is it? Seems to me antisemitic... Not one goes to the streets regarding the oppression of Palestinans by Thier own leadership... Palestinans can't protests against their Palestinan masters. No one going out to the streets against the oppressive houthis in yemen. No one took it to the streets regarding drafur 200k casualties, no one took it to the streets regarding Syrian civil war... Oh by the way Assad also abused Palestinans... But who cares right? I mean it's cases where it's not Jews defending themselves so why bother...

[@rft2001]

The right to support Islamofascism

[@CVR-qt8dn]

​@@rft2001nope they don't.

[@rft2001]

@@CVR-qt8dn Sure they do. They support the most regressive groups on Earth and protest the most progressive nation in the Mid-East.

[@DoveBlue]

“While everyone has the right to free speech, it's important to remember that hateful rhetoric has no place in civil discourse. Let's strive for respectful dialogue and understanding.”

[@aujax1]

i was there today. everyone was extremely peaceful and respectful. protest rhetoric was directed at israeli policies, not against all jewish people.

[@HaasSpitta]

The encampments and condemnation of hate speech are not mutually exclusive. The encampments are synonymous with peaceful rhetoric.

[@DoveBlue]

@@HaasSpitta How about Haiti, Haitians families, children, babies and their sufferings, did you Stand with them as well….?!

[@aousaous65]

@@DoveBlueyes they stand with every ppl who need help but I didn’t see 45,000 Haitians died by genocide within 6 months.

[@Carl9449]

It’s paid for. They couldn’t even point where on the map the conflict is!

[@Carl9449]

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in an appearance on “CBS Mornings” on Wednesday that police had identified organizations and individuals who weren’t university students, but professional agitators. “Once I became aware of the outside agitators who were part of this operation, as Columbia mentioned in their letter and their request with the New York City Police Department, it was clear we had to take appropriate actions when our intelligence division identified those who were professionals, well trained,” Adams said.

[@mochamadulum4080]

Students of Columbia...❤

[@proudtobehere]

jobless future, nobody will hire them

[@kaydee5639]

How many Muslim students are there in this university?

[@aronblanche]

Many, especially international students

[@michaelattia9834]

One does not have to be a Muslim to support Palestine.

[@MichaelFineMusic]

Too many.

[@larrylaffer4304]

Students don't seem to support Palestine much. Instead, there's just negativity and not enough understanding.

[@user-ul2xf5wn7x]

​@@michaelattia9834👏👏👏👍

[@shuamung]

Homeland SECURITY must and should be ALERT.

[@cyberspacesupersoldier]

You're insane.

[@user-sp1md5xu8j]

They pose a serious threat if they endorse Hamas, a terrorist group whose cruelty is comparable to that of ISIS.

[@jayr7890]

​@@cyberspacesupersoldierIslamic extremists calling others insane 😂

[@cyberspacesupersoldier]

@@jayr7890 We're not "Islamic Extremists", we just believe that Israel should/must stop attacking and destroying Palestine, which is essentially beating a dead horse. 🙄 Anti-Zionism ≠ Antisemitism Anti-Zionism = Anti-Racism, Anti-Fascism, Anti-Colonialism, Anti-Imperialism, Anti-White Nationalism, and Anti-White Supremacy.

[@cmhardin37]

Exactly​@@jayr7890

[@ronulo]

Is the pandemic still going on there ?

[@jacobchan9198]

International governments should do more about the protests

[@user-yk2gh3he8q]

Stop the genocide!!!

[@Dr.Les777]

azhol

[@alihassanpour3653]

No

[@Carl9449]

Didn’t hear you protest against Terrorist and Rapists !

[@rft2001]

Yes, except that they are blaming the victims of genocide, the Israeli's; and supporting the perpetrators, Hamas/Iran.

[@rft2001]

All that your side can do is spout catch phrases.

[@rke1995]

Why don't you guys talk about the Israeli hostage situation..Why is Hamas not liberating them?

[@sadavir429]

#1- Bc we fund Israel with billions of dollars of military aid so we have more responsiblity over Israels' action and not Hamas and #2 Israel used that aid to kill 15000 children. Last time I checked Israel has killed waaaaayyyy more innocent people than Hamas. Also whataboutism is a logical fallacy. And they did talk about the hostages at 2:30 in this video.

[@Santinal-iv8ze]

i can ask you the same question lol

[@rke1995]

@@Santinal-iv8ze Why did Hamas attack first?Why provoked Israel?

[@HaileTyler]

If you watched the full video, the protesters put up pictures of the hostages as a central part of their protest against human rights violations.

[@rke1995]

@@HaileTyler Tell this to Hamas...who is holding civilians hostage

[@sajisaji6085]

Booked

[@user-mr8bm8vv8c]

Heroes of the Voice of Truth, continue, for the echo of your voice is strong and influential. We are with you👏🏻👏🏻🇵🇸❤️

[@The12thSeahorse]

Gee…..they are really fortunate not to have heavy rains.

[@franklinj1038]

Softball Hail

[@tigersforever4577]

Of course, the UN in its insatiable and infinite hatred of Israel and the indomitable Jewish spirit has not designated Hamas a terrorist entity.

[@Blankarte]

🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@solly9049]

Not only do they pay for education in america but also get arrested and jailed if they dont wanna pay for some other countries warr

[@JeffEbe-te2xs]

I don’t want to pay for their education

[@kimjames6028]

This❤

[@Jeanne90275]

No, it's for urban squatting on private property. Get your facts straight.

[@saikatmajee709]

The world is very much concerned about human rights violation in USA. UN needs to intervene without any delay.

[@kathym.248]

Huh?

[@jeremylevine9109]

lol. UN has zero credibility.. you read news?

[@eviken1982]

​@@kathym.248He/She is right. So people who are protesting for a ceasefire, for peace are a treat to USA national security but of course I forgot. USA loves genocide.

[@Jeanne90275]

Squatting on private property is not a "civil rights."

[@saikatmajee709]

​@@Jeanne90275 If you support it and US govt can't handle it without torturing the innocent students, then why always US lectures the same to other democracies.

[@franklinj1038]

Mirror image of Adams Family

[@zikemdg]

We need to protest these price hikes

[@user-vq8on7dh1y]

Forgive them

[@MaliBrizi]

GOD BLESS YOU DEAR STUDENTS ❤️❤️❤️ LOVE AND RESPECT

[@swaramudapuken]

Whatever our religion, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist, we definitely oppose human rights crimes. We as human beings definitely want the brotherhood and democratization of fellow human beings to work well. There are no cruelties and crimes on human rights. Come, with a spirit of brotherhood, I urge you to oppose crimes against humanity against Gaza. And let's uphold human rights and build brotherhood. Let's make our respective governments aware in our respective countries. And let's support the students at the University of Colombia, America by taking action in our respective countries. Let's raise our opposition to crimes against humanity in Gaza and other parts of the world and we will cultivate the brotherhood of fellow human beings in the world with compassion for fellow human beings. Columbia University Student Life United States.

[@williamjoseph1300]

If only these people cared about their own country so much. Sadly both parties would rather watch the U.S. burn

[@jameslshaffer5463]

The federal government needs to pull tax dollars from these colleges

[@muhammedhajat9391]

"Stop FUNDING these students. Stop the ILLEGAL OCCUPATION of Universities" Yet you okay with US tax money FUNDING a forreign state And you okay with the 75 year ILLEGAL OCCUPATION of Palestine.

[@colin8696908]

I can tell you that NYC does not take kindly to encampments due to the density of the city. These students did this knowing that there was a 100% chance of a police confrontation.

[@gkbhai8962]

The Caliphate of the United States of America

[@derronhall495]

That's not an encampment. That's glamping.

[@TomA-xt5xp]

It wasn’t the 1950s cops will handle that whole different way

[@aousaous65]

Yes it’s not the 50s but you seem your brain is stuck at that time 😂😂😂

[@TomA-xt5xp]

Getting a job be better than you have no time for nonsense

[@havoc7154]

RIP Democracy

[@Soundofsilver2007]

Democracy died in 1980

[@frankdu-oz2jd]

American freedom？

[@Jeanne90275]

"American freedom" does not include urban camping on private property.

[@ericdai7157]

Awakener, Awakening Age

[@epipolarus]

"What a beautiful sight", Nancy Pelosi

[@user-yk2gh3he8q]

🇵🇸

[@Isabel-oq3vf]

🇮🇱

[@Isabel-oq3vf]

D

[@johnglasgow8784]

Remember publicly available Police arrest photos with no facial coverings are forever. Hint future employers.

[@stazang]

↑ Hint future employers this bozo

[@johnglasgow8784]

@@stazang Sorry I just retired at 50 last year after 30 years at my career firefighting job with a 141K pension. Never working again. Who’s the bozo 🙄.

[@BishopVampire69]

@@stazangdon’t worry all these pal bozos with criminal records will never find a good job

[@JeffEbe-te2xs]

Like their dads and government

[@michaelscarn4133]

@@stazangclown

[@Jodoe243]

This is anti-Vietnam war ACT II.

[@rft2001]

No way man. The protests in the 60's and 70's were for Aquarian values. These cats demonstrate for regressive theocratic authoritarians. Can you imagine what Tim Leary would think of Hamas?

[@jtstaas736]

Lord forgive them for they know not what they do! 🛐

[@aousaous65]

F ur lord 😂😂😂

[@jtstaas736]

@aousaous65 that's a very hateful thing to say. I'm sorry you feel that way. 😔

[@thomasfranks8598]

How is this in anyway bad or a sin?

[@CAC6363]

How do you all have this kinda time? I’m dying to pay rent and eat… what’s this actually doing for Palestine? Israel doesn’t care

[@user-pn4vk7nf5w]

So proud of these students for standing up with humanity and showing their solidarity. This by the way is not something uncommon, students stood up for Civil right movement, Vietnam, BLM and much more. This is their basic human right to peacefully protest.

[@kathym.248]

How about the basic human right to attend school safely? It took the National Guard to ensure black children and youth could in the Deep South. Is that what it takes now for Jews? The right to protest has limits, but its MOST enshrined in the U.S., which is something to celebrate, yes. But when it's used to support murderous terrorists who want to wipe out a sovereign state, a western country that TOO believes in human rights, when the terrorists don't, it's sad. And the right to protest doesn't mean occupy or intimidate others, which they've done.

[@thomasov2004]

But do they realise Hamas shall never win? Nor will hatred against jews ever become the norm.

[@Store-ig8uy]

Too bad they don't know what they are protesting. Just ask them. Go ahead, ask them.

[@rft2001]

The protests in the 60's and 70's were for Aquarian values. These cats demonstrate for regressive theocratic authoritarians. Can you imagine what Tim Leary would think of Hamas? Or vice versa?

[@user-pn4vk7nf5w]

@@rft2001 H@m@s is bad and by no mean I am in support of them, However resistance is an ideology, and P@lestinians will keep the resistances until the occupations by Occupiers stops. and I would say that students of 70's or 60's with humanity would stand up for the ceasefire so we can stop the killings of children and innocent people.

[@Channel--Ai]

To it into a homeless shelter

[@JupiterThunder]

When I was at university in the 80s, students were there to study and learn. It wasn't regarded as a platform for political protest - you could do that anywhere, why do it at university? Unless of course to give the totally bogus impression that the university officially supports your political protest, which it doesn't as that is not its function. I was too busy learning 500 years' worth of physics, that's what I was there to do, and there was no time to do anything else if you wanted make a success of it. I'm amazed that these days students waste their time and money at university doing this garbage, when they are spending so much money, but then I guess if Joe Biden writes off all the student debt off to taxpayers, then they are the one being forced to pay for these protests even if they don't agree with them.

[@raseru-mk4xd]

God bless israel

[@mohd.arshad1584]

The Kings and the Citizens of Arabs Should Learn Bravery and Courage from these Students

[@nazmi5337]

Thank you US students ❤ Free Palestine ❤

[@Dovil3334]

And a genocide happening under our eyes also makes us uncomfortable! This argument is so idiotic ... Did you stop sanctions on Russia because it made Russians uncomfortable?

[@agresseur7184]

It is hard for Isreal sympathizers and supporters to see that America has become diverse enough after 20+ year of Republican wars in the Middle East and follow on immigration by many that helped the US fight those wars now have US Citizen offspring in College. They see the war financed by the US in quite a different view point from most in America who have been fed a single sided view. All the DEI attacks by Republicans over the past two years have done nothing but heighten the awareness of these students to frailty of their heritage and need to stand up for their liberty and what they view as just like any good Free American.

[@JeffEbe-te2xs]

Obama a Democrat was in the Middle East for 8 years and expanded it into Syria

[@alienmo6653]

Free Palestine 🇵🇸

[@sugarmagnolia1475]

Pro Palestinian is nit tge sane as peaceful solutions, separate or be coubted with them.

👁️ stand with Israel all the way!!!

[@Soundofsilver2007]

You have a thorn in your 👁️

[@rft2001]

Most all of us do. Israel is the only free, progressive democracy in the Mid-East.

[@rft2001]

@@Soundofsilver2007 You have a thorn in your hajib.

[@a.michelle9289]

🇺🇸This is wrong. If these students feel SO STRONGLY they should go to Palestine and protest in Israel.

[@BlueSupermoon20]

How was America formed? How was our constitution and how were our laws formed? Through sitting idly by? No. It’s the definition of what it means to be American to question our government and express concerns about where our funds go. Why is your hard earned money being used to fund weapons in Israel? Ask your government why they don’t go themselves and fight for Israel

[@StevenPringle-mu3zt]

@@BlueSupermoon20because we have vital interests there. The shortest trade route from Asia to Europe travels through the area where Yemen and Israel is. The US has vital interest to keep that.

[@louisabenitah8673]

Who negotiate with terrorist?

[@user-sp1md5xu8j]

They pose a serious threat if they endorse Hamas, a terrorist group whose cruelty is comparable to that of ISIS.

[@eviken1982]

Who are terrorists?

[@user-sp1md5xu8j]

@@eviken1982 Hamas and their helper suportetrs

[@Santinal-iv8ze]

​@@user-sp1md5xu8j well if The zionists did not occupy palestine there would have been no hostages or hamas or 7 oct

[@YoungCub]

2:45 she spoke with wisdom

[@sabrinaafrinsimi6964]

"The nazis made me afraid of being Jewish and the zionists made me ashamed of being Jewish." - Israel Shahak

[@BishopVampire69]

The Islamic fanatics made me realize that I was as Jewish even though I had no formal religious education and the activities of IDF 😊 made me proud that I’m Jewish

[@proudtobehere]

left wing brainwashing at its best.

[@Humanslovedjknnn]

​​@@BishopVampire69Islam is more dangerous than Nazi ideology.

[@theresapeticca8411]

Looks like it stinks out there 😕

[@raseru-mk4xd]

God bless Israel

[@mrblack3806]

america future hahahaha

[@kd8428]

🇺🇸🎗🇮🇱

[@moshahidahmed3486]

free free Palestine

[@thomasov2004]

Hamas shall never win. Stop the hatred against the jewish people.

[@tradoss1]

Not all jews are zionists!!

[@fatemeh.06]

Delusional 😂

[@jayr7890]

​@@tradoss1but all Palestinians are Hamas supporters

[@Santinal-iv8ze]

well if The zionists did not occupy palestine there would have been no hostages or hamas or 7 oct

[@TomA-xt5xp]

Lol

[@warmsunnytoday4535]

What ever happened to the blood stained mattresses story in Brooklyn that the Cha.bad guys were seen leaving in an underground bunker? Was anyone arrested for child hurting?

[@krishnakanth77]

If u r so sensitive , u r so done Think about people in gaza , they are bombed , U know the excuses israel make , they warn before bombing , so nice of them .

[@Santinal-iv8ze]

your insane go get some help

[@letsgovlog4153]

Free...free Palestine....... Carry on Beloved Comrades ... Best of luck dud

[@rft2001]

Reich Winger

[@joysplace2660]

Wherever islam goes, it creates chaos and problem in this world

[@mansorahmadi6501]

Martyr's blood breaks the gravity of the soil and splits the darkness and opens a passage of light. At that time, we used to say that the lovers of Hajj Qassem Soleimani's school love martyrdom, and every single drop of blood of the martyrs, which is dedicated to the path of resistance, will cause more growth and awaken and determined people for the movement and consolidation and strengthening of the inspiring discourse of resistance all over the world. And the arrival of professors and young students from every religion in the heart of America and Europe is imminent. The brutal killing of children, women and fighters and Mujahideen in Gaza and the inability of international organizations to stop the heinous crimes of the Zionist regime and its supporters have enlightened the positions of the free people of the world and the American and European conscience, and the academic community has denied violence and killing. The oppressed people of Palestine have been shaped by America and the fake Israeli regime🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷🇯🇴🇯🇴🇯🇴🇯🇴🇯🇴🇯🇴🌹🌹🌹

[@greenriver77]

These Students should Learn from THE VIETNAM WAR Protesters🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@eviken1982]

They learned about them and it encouraged them more

[@rft2001]

The protests in the 60's and 70's were for Aquarian values. These cats demonstrate for regressive theocratic authoritarians. Can you imagine what Tim Leary would think of Hamas?

[@mikeheller8286]

Loser's

[@LilacPledge]

❤️🇮🇱❤️

[@repric01]

Poor Americans don’t even have the freedom to say free Palestine.

[@liamlinson7563]

i dont want my tax dollars going to israel, millions of americans dont

[@BishopVampire69]

But why are you masked just like a hezbollah? And do you really pal taxes

[@JeffEbe-te2xs]

I don’t want my tax dollars to support liberal universities and students

[@3_5_wP]

Thes kids couldn’t point Palestine or Israel on a map if their life depended on it😂😂😂

[@stephenw2671]

They are cowards to the fullest extent.

[@cmhardin37]

Protests do nothing

[@sajisaji6085]

Columbia university the epic centre of hamaz controlled students islamic revolutionary movements

[@eviken1982]

Nope, you explained what the other side is about

[@Blankarte]

🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@horde4909]

✊🏽🇵🇸✊🏽🇵🇸✊🏽🇵🇸✊🏽🇵🇸✊🏽🇵🇸✊🏽🇵🇸✊🏽🇵🇸

[@franceszhang2220]

Columbia University❤❤❤

[@abdullatif6557]

Please Stop Israeli genocide and freedom and justice for helpless Palestinians ❤🇵🇸

[@mohammadabdallah8132]

Free Palestine 🇵🇸 from the river to the sea

[@alexamet7535]

🇦🇪🇦🇪🇦🇪🇦🇪❤️❤️❤️❤️🇦🇪🇦🇪🇦🇪🇦🇪

[@raseru-mk4xd]

God bless Israel

[@raseru-mk4xd]

God bless Israel

[@Santinal-iv8ze]

but you don't believe in god genius