A group of anti-Israel protesters dressed as keffiyeh took control of a tower at Barnard College in New York City on Wednesday night and allegedly assaulted an staff while protesting the termination of two students who had formerly allegedly abused their positions at Columbia University with inflammation materials in January.
The veiled demonstrators from Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine used drums and megaphones to demonstrate in the hallways of Milbank Hall, according to a video posted on social media app X.
The company, which describes itself with “long dwell the scholar revolution” in its report, published their requirements, including reinstating expelled students, pardoning those disciplined during past anti-Israel demonstrations, and requesting a public discussion with Dean Leslie Grinage and Barnard President Laura Rosenbury.
Also, their demands included “abolition of the crooked Barnard administrative process and total transparency for present, past, and future disciplinary proceedings.”
The group alleged that Barnard protection officers had mistreated individuals, whilst a school agent, Robin Levine, confirmed that activists had physically harmed a team member who required hospitalisation.
A Columbia University classics professor, Kristina Milnor, attempted negotiations, suggesting a meeting with administrators under specific conditions, but protesters responded negatively.
Demonstrators entered Milbank Hall carrying political messages and left before 10.40 pm, announcing plans to resume the protests at the school gates at 12.45 pm the following day.
After successfully bringing admin to the table, the College later revealed that the protestors have since dispersed. In a post on X, Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine stated that” they will meet tomorrow at 1 p.m.
In a subsequent statement, President Rosenbury criticized the protesters ‘ behavior and highlighted their disregard for the safety of the neighborhood.
The unidentified students who had distributed anti-Jewish materials at a” History of Modern Israel” class on January 21 were the cause of the protest.
While noting Barnard’s authority over the protest, Columbia University acknowledged the inappropriate nature of academic disruption.
Mark Treyger and Brian Cohen, two leaders in the Jewish community, expressed grave disapproval of the protesters ‘ actions and how they had an effect on the educational environment of students.
