How Columbia University became the driving force behind US protests over the war in Gaza
A protest against the war in Gaza that started at Columbia University two weeks ago incited sprawling demonstrations at college campuses across the U.S.; hundreds of people have been arrested
Hundreds were arrested after protests at Columbia University and City College in Harlem. The NYPD will maintain a presence at the Ivy League school until after graduation, while both schools will have remote classes for the rest of the semester. Another protest sprung up at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus, with several tents going up inside a university building. So what happens next? NBC New York’s Andrew Siff, Gus Rosendale and Jessica Cunnington have team coverage.
As the two-week standoff between pro-Palestinian protesters and college administrators at Columbia University in New York came to a head Tuesday, officials anxiously monitored whether the fallout would spark more protests on college campuses around the country or quell what has been a growing movement.
It was the former.
Here's a timeline illustrating how Columbia became the driving force behind national college protests:
Students set up an encampment at Columbia University the same day university president Nemat "Menouche" Shafik is called for questioning before Congress. Shafik is heavily criticized by Republicans who accuse her of not doing enough to combat concerns about antisemitism on Columbia's campus. Allegations of antisemitism arose during Pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's actions in the war in Gaza.
The public grilling session comes four months after a similarly contentious congressional hearing led to the resignations of two Ivy League presidents. Unlike her counterparts, who focused their responses on protecting free speech, Shafik strongly denounced antisemitism, saying it “has no place on our campus.”
There were tense moments on Capitol Hill and in NYC as Columbia University faces new scrutiny of antisemitism on campus. In D.C., the university's president got a congressional grilling, while the Manhattan campus saw protests on Wednesday. NBC New York's Gus Rosendale reports.
April 18
New York City police are called to Columbia's campus to disband the pro-Palestinian protest encampment and arrest more than 100 protesters. Those detained include the daughter of Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, who a day earlier had questioned Shafik about the school's treatment of pro-Palestinian protesters.
The arrests, which came by Columbia University's request, garnered national attention and inflamed college protests across the country. A day later, the University of Southern California announced it canceled the keynote commencement speech by filmmaker Jon M. Chu. USC had already disallowed its student valedictorian, who is Muslim, from speaking at the May 10 commencement.
In the coming days, pro-Palestinian encampments are set up at the University of Michigan, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina.
April 22
Columbia cancels in-person classes, and an encampment set up at New York University swells to hundreds of protesters. NYU officials call in police after warning the crowd to leave and saying the scene has become disorderly. Police arrest dozens of protesters at NYU and at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut. The gates to Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, are closed to the public.
President Joe Biden addresses the unrest and seeks to find a narrow middle ground by condemning “antisemitic protests” but adding that he also condemns "those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”
Romney Smith reports on more than 100 arrests at NYU pro-Palestinian protest.
Elsewhere, police make more arrests on other university campuses.
At the University of Texas at Austin, hundreds of local and state police — including some on horseback and holding batons — aggressively clash with protesters, pushing them off campus grounds, and arrest more than 30 demonstrators. At the University of Southern California, police peacefully arrest student protesters.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 29: Demonstrators from the pro-Palestine encampment on Columbia’s Campus show a banner as they barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, they barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building which has been occupied in past student movements,, and name it after a Palestinian child allegedly killed by the Israeli military on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in New York City. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched around the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University as a 2 P.M. deadline to clear the encampment given to students by the university passed. The students were given a suspension warning if they do not meet the deadline. Columbia students were the first to erect an encampment in support of Palestine, with students demanding that the school divest from Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war, where more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Student protesters camp near the entrance to Hamilton Hall on the campus of Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. All classes at Columbia University have been held virtually today after school President Minouche Shafik announced a shift to online learning in response to recent campus unrest. (Photo by Mary Altaffer-Pool/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 29: Demonstrators from the pro-Palestine encampment on Columbia’s Campus barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building which has been occupied in past student movements, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in New York City. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched around the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University as a 2 P.M. deadline to clear the encampment given to students by the university passed. The students were given a suspension warning if they do not meet the deadline. Columbia students were the first to erect an encampment in support of Palestine, with students demanding that the school divest from Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war, where more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: A student protester pulls up a crate filled with foot and supplies from a balcony of Hamilton Hall on the campus of Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. All classes at Columbia University have been held virtually today after school President Minouche Shafik announced a shift to online learning in response to recent campus unrest. (Photo by Mary Altaffer-Pool/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Benches and trash bins block the entrance to Hamilton Hall where some student protesters camped on the campus of Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. All classes at Columbia University have been held virtually today after school President Minouche Shafik announced a shift to online learning in response to recent campus unrest. (Photo by Mary Altaffer-Pool/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Demonstrators supporting Palestinians in Gaza barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building which has been occupied in past student movements, on April 30, 2024 in New York City. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched as a 2 p.m. deadline to clear the encampment given to students by the university came and went. The students were given a suspension warning if they did not meet the deadline. Students at Columbia were the first from an elite college to erect an encampment, demanding that the school divest from Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war, in which more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: A student protester parades a Palestinian flag outside the entrance to Hamilton Hall on the campus of Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. All classes at Columbia University have been held virtually today after school President Minouche Shafik announced a shift to online learning in response to recent campus unrest. (Photo by Mary Altaffer-Pool/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 29: A demonstrator breaks the windows of the front door of the building in order to secure a chain around it to prevent authorities from entering on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in New York City. Demonstrators from the pro-Palestine encampment on Columbia’s Campus barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building which has been occupied in past student movements,. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched around the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University as a 2 P.M. deadline to clear the encampment given to students by the university passed. The students were given a suspension warning if they do not meet the deadline. Columbia students were the first to erect an encampment in support of Palestine, with students demanding that the school divest from Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war, where more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: A Student protestor drops trash in a bin where benches and trash bins block the entrance to Hamilton Hall on the campus of Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. All classes at Columbia University have been held virtually today after school President Minouche Shafik announced a shift to online learning in response to recent campus unrest. (Photo by Mary Altaffer-Pool/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Student protesters camp near the entrance to Hamilton Hall on the campus of Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. All classes at Columbia University have been held virtually today after school President Minouche Shafik announced a shift to online learning in response to recent campus unrest. (Photo by Mary Altaffer-Pool/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Demonstrators supporting Palestinians in Gaza barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building which has been occupied in past student movements, on April 30, 2024 in New York City. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched as a 2 p.m. deadline to clear the encampment given to students by the university came and went. The students were given a suspension warning if they did not meet the deadline. Students at Columbia were the first from an elite college to erect an encampment, demanding that the school divest from Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war, in which more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Demonstrators supporting Palestinians in Gaza barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building which has been occupied in past student movements, on April 30, 2024 in New York City. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched as a 2 p.m. deadline to clear the encampment given to students by the university came and went. The students were given a suspension warning if they did not meet the deadline. Students at Columbia were the first from an elite college to erect an encampment, demanding that the school divest from Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war, in which more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: A student protester pulls up a crate filled with foot and supplies from a balcony of Hamilton Hall on the campus of Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. All classes at Columbia University have been held virtually today after school President Minouche Shafik announced a shift to online learning in response to recent campus unrest. (Photo by Mary Altaffer-Pool/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 29: A lone police officer reacts as multiple demonstrators enter into Hamilton Hall where they proceeded to barricade themselves in the academic building which has been occupied in past student movements, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in New York City. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched around the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University as a 2 P.M. deadline to clear the encampment given to students by the university passed. The students were given a suspension warning if they do not meet the deadline. Columbia students were the first to erect an encampment in support of Palestine, with students demanding that the school divest from Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war, where more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Hamilton Hall is seen as people wait in line to enter Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. Columbia University has restricted access to the school’s campus to students residing in residential buildings on campus and employees who provide essential services to campus buildings after protestors took over Hamilton Hall overnight renaming it as “Hind’s Hall” in honor of Hind Rajab. The students have barricaded themselves in the building and have also erected another encampment on Lewisohn Lawn, outside Lewisohn Hall. The protesters have said they are planning to remain at the hall until the university concedes to CU Apartheid Divest’s three demands: divestment, financial transparency and amnesty. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Pro-Palestinian protestors occupy space at an entrance to Hamilton Hall at Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. Columbia University has restricted access to the school’s campus to students residing in residential buildings on campus and employees who provide essential services to campus buildings after protestors took over Hamilton Hall overnight renaming it as “Hind’s Hall” in honor of Hind Rajab. The students have barricaded themselves in the building and have also erected another encampment on Lewisohn Lawn, outside Lewisohn Hall. The protesters have said they are planning to remain at the hall until the university concedes to CU Apartheid Divest’s three demands: divestment, financial transparency and amnesty. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: A Columbia student looks at damage to windows of a door at Hamilton Hall at Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. Columbia University has restricted access to the school’s campus to students residing in residential buildings on campus and employees who provide essential services to campus buildings after protestors took over Hamilton Hall overnight renaming it as “Hind’s Hall” in honor of Hind Rajab. The students have barricaded themselves in the building and have also erected another encampment on Lewisohn Lawn, outside Lewisohn Hall. The protesters have said they are planning to remain at the hall until the university concedes to CU Apartheid Divest’s three demands: divestment, financial transparency and amnesty. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
April 26
Columbia University students say they're at an impasse after exhaustive negotiations with administrators, and intend to continue their encampment until their divestment demands are met. That comes after hundreds of protesters have been arrested nationwide over the previous nine days.
The school sends an email to students saying that bringing back police “at this time” would be counterproductive.
Meanwhile, schools across the country where protests have taken root prepare to shut down encampments over reports of antisemitic activity and concerns the protests will mar upcoming commencement ceremonies.
The president of Columbia University is facing mounting pressure to step down, amid more pro-Palestianian protests and a visit to campus by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. Demonstrators face a new deadline to clear out their encampment, as tension remains in and around the Ivy League school. NBC New York's Ida Siegal reports.
April 29
Columbia makes good on its promise to suspend students who defy a 2 p.m. deadline to leave the encampment of more than 100 tents. Instead of vacating, hundreds of protesters remain, marching around the quad and weaving around piles of temporary flooring and green carpeting meant for graduation ceremonies that are scheduled to begin next week.
Around the country, the number of arrests at campuses nationwide is approaching 1,000 as the final days of class wrap up.
Officials confirmed late Monday that student protesters were being suspended for refusing to leave their encampment on campus. News 4's Andrew Siff reports.
April 30
Dozens of protesters take over Hamilton Hall on Columbia's campus, barricading entrances and hanging a “Free Palestine” banner from a window as administrators warn that they face expulsion for doing so. Protesters insist they will remain at the hall until the university agrees to three demands: divestment from Israel and companies supporting the war in Gaza, financial transparency and amnesty for protesters.
Late that night, hundreds of heavily armed NYPD officers stormed the hall, clearing the protesters from that location and the encampment. No injuries were reported. New York City says outside agitators led the escalation. While that was happening, students protesting the war in Gaza at UCLA were involved in violent clashes with police.
New York police officers arrived at Columbia University shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday night to clear protesters barricaded inside Hamilton Hall.
