Ah, the joys of academia, where students gather on the first day of classes—not to learn but to protest. This time, the stage is set at Columbia University, and the curtain rises on yet another round of demonstrations organized by none other than the Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine. It’s becoming a regular show at Columbia, with this group at the helm, demanding the university divest from Israel. And here we are again, folks, protesting Israel while completely ignoring the terrorism of Hamas. How convenient.
At 9:30 a.m., just as students are trying to ease back into their routines, the protesters decide it’s the perfect time to block the gates of Broadway and 116th Street. Why not? After all, making life difficult for everyone else is part of the strategy. Oh, and let’s not forget the second protest because one just isn’t enough. On the other side, by Amsterdam Avenue, a similar scene unfolds. How charming.
Two arrests later—a 21-year-old woman from California and a 21-year-old man from Manhattan—the NYPD has had enough of the “peaceful” protestors. Disorderly conduct and obstruction charges? Classic. But the best part? The red paint splattered on the Alma Mater statue outside Low Memorial Library around noon. Vandalism, because nothing says “peace and justice,” like defacing a symbol of education.
🚨🇺🇸Major Pro Hamas protest get out of hand in New York multiple people arrested thousands of protesters block the streets and roads also blocked off Columbia University for the first day of classes⚠️ pic.twitter.com/6JuwRiRc4t
— Todd Paron🇺🇸🇬🇷🎧👽 (@tparon) September 3, 2024
Columbia senior Alon Simon Levin nails it: “They’re making life unbearable for all Jews on campus.” Unbearable for everyone, really. But does anyone in the administration seem to care? Not really. Columbia’s official line is, “We are focused on teaching, creating, and advancing knowledge.” Right, because nothing advances knowledge like letting masked protesters run wild, harassing Jewish students.
Oh, and about those security measures implemented after last semester’s chaos? Students and staff now have to flash IDs just to enter the campus, while guests need to pre-register. It’s not about safety—it’s about damage control. After all, Columbia doesn’t want another public relations disaster, but it’s too little, too late for some students.
Then there’s Professor Joseph Howley, doing the “both sides” dance. He’s quick to point out that some Jewish students are protesting alongside their peers. Sure, Joseph, but how many of those protesters are calling for the destruction of the Jewish state while cloaking themselves in face masks? The hypocrisy is staggering.
Speaking of masks, how about banning them altogether at protests? After all, if these brave students really stand by their convictions, why hide? Oh, that’s right, because anonymity makes it easier to harass and intimidate without consequences. Pro-Israeli demonstrators have been pleading for this ban, saying they’re being targeted for their Jewish identity. But, apparently, their safety doesn’t top Columbia’s priority list.
And let’s not forget the spectacular exit of Columbia’s former president Minouche Shafik. Thirteen months of controversy, mostly from her mishandling of these very protests, led to her resignation. Now, interim President Katrina Armstrong has the Herculean task of balancing free expression with campus safety. Best of luck with that.
What’s a new school year without some protests, vandalism, and a couple arrests? Day two of coverage at Columbia University pic.twitter.com/Lr4QReb5tn
— Alexis McAdams (@AlexisMcAdamsTV) September 4, 2024
So here we are, another semester, another protest, another reminder that college campuses are becoming less about education and more about political theater. Meanwhile, innocent people are caught in the crossfire, both on campus and halfway across the world.
