Arrest And Suspension For The Pro-Palestinians Protestors At Columbia University (X image@im_ishaan)
The Columbia University threatens to expel “dozens” of pro-Palestinian students who are protesting against Israel”s war on Gaza in the campus lawns. The threat came after US politicians led by Joe Biden condemned the protest as it spreads like wildfire. Several hundreds were arrested by the police including professors. Reportedly, more than 1000 arrests have been taken place in universities across US. The Columbia University became a pro-Palestine protest zone on April 17.
Early on Tuesday, the demonstrators marched to Hamilton Hall and blocked the entrances. They unfurled the “free Palestine” flag. The protesters renamed the Hamilton Hall as “Hind”s Hall”, in memory of the six-years-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, who was killed by the Israeli forces in Gaza in last February.
This led a widespread standoff between the authorities and the protestors as the former on Monday sought to end the encampment in campus by threatening about suspension of the students who did not disperse. The authorities began suspending the protesting students and police started to arrest.
Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said that the police officers were “wearing riot gear”. Taking to their X (formerly twitter) account, it said that “multiple blocks have been barricaded off”. Over 30-40 people were arrested from the Hamilton Hall, said AP. While some shouted “Free Palestine”, others shouted “Let the students go”.
The move to clear the students from the Hamilton Hall came after 56 years since police swept in to arrest the protestors back in 1968, as students protested against racism and Vietnam war.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said, “President Biden respects rights to free expression, but protests must be peaceful and lawful. Forcibly taking over buildings is not peaceful. It is wrong. And hate speech and hate symbols have no place in America”, as quoted by media.
Columbia University has been the focal point since the beginning of the Israel–Hamas war on October 7th last year. However, a decision made by the authorities to arrest the protestors who were peacefully protesting in the “free speech zone”, the protest got wider attention. It has now spread from California to the west of Massachusetts.
