Metro

Two arrested as dozens of Hamas-cheering anti-Israel protesters descend on Columbia in chaotic start to new school year

By
Jack Morphet,
Carl Campanile,
Emily Crane and
Chris Nesi
Published Sep. 3, 2024, 12:19 p.m. ET

The NYPD arrested two people Tuesday as dozens of screaming anti-Israel protesters swarmed Columbia University and Barnard College on the first day of classes — resuming the chaotic demonstrations that paralyzed the Upper Manhattan campus at the tail end of last semester.

The rowdy demonstrators formed a picket line and banged drums as scores of students waited in lengthy lines to pass through security and gain access to the Ivy League school in Morningside Heights.

Protests also formed outside of neighboring Barnard College, CU’s sister school, where two demonstrators, including one shrouding their face and head with a keffiyeh scarf, were taken into custody.

New York City Police Department officers arresting a pro-Palestine protestor during a demonstration outside Barnard College of Columbia University on the first day of Fall semester, 2024
New York City Police Department officers arresting a pro-Palestine protestor during a demonstration outside Barnard College of Columbia University on the first day of Fall semester, 2024. James Keivom

The protesters — including many brandishing signs declaring “resist until victory” — could be heard chanting “over 100,000 dead, Columbia your hands are red” and “don’t cross the picket line, we must honor Palestine.”

At one point, there were at least 150 students stretched around the block to enter via the tall iron gates at Broadway and West 116th Street.

Inside the campus, the Alma Mater, a bronze statue dating back to the early 1900s and located on the steps of the Low Memorial Library, had been vandalized with red paint by noon.

A woman participating in a Pro-Palestine protest outside Barnard College of Columbia University, holding a sign and pointing, on the first day of fall semester classes, September 3, 2024.
A woman participating in a Pro-Palestine protest outside Barnard College of Columbia University, holding a sign and pointing, on the first day of fall semester classes, September 3, 2024. James Keivom

The protest came just months after the Columbia campus descended into a cesspool of antisemitism at the end of the spring semester, setting off a wave of anti-Israel demonstrations at colleges nationwide.Columbia’s embattled president Minouche Shafik abruptly resigned weeks ago following last year’s “period of turmoil” during which she brought the NYPD onto campus twice to clear out tent encampments.

Since Shafik’s resignation, interim President Katrina Armstrong vowed to balance students’ rights to free expression and foster a safe learning environment for the fall semester. 

The school also circulated new protest guidelines in a bid to limit disruption.

Just days ago, Columbia’s faculty-led antisemitism task force released a sweeping report detailing how “urgent” changes were needed in order to combat hate on campus in the wake of last year’s violence.

Members of the New York City Police Department arresting a pro-Palestine protestor during a demonstration outside Barnard College of Columbia University
Members of the New York City Police Department arresting a pro-Palestine protestor during a demonstration outside Barnard College of Columbia University. James Keivom

The 91-page report found the institution did little to stop the ostracization, humiliation and verbal abuse of Jewish and Israeli students in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel — and that some professors even “minimized” students’ concerns of rising hate.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has vowed to crack down in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year’s campus demonstrations across the state.

Pro-Palestine protestors demonstrating with signs as Columbia University students line up to enter campus on the first day of fall semester, 2024
Pro-Palestine protestors demonstrating with signs as Columbia University students line up to enter campus on the first day of fall semester, 2024. Jack Morphet/NY Post

During a virtual meeting with New York college presidents last week, Hochul urged school officials to enforce disciplinary codes and impose “swift action” to punish wrongdoers, according to a source involved.

Hochul warned there were “storm clouds ahead” and that college administrators “have to be ready,” the source added.

The governor also applauded colleges who planned to put in place stronger ID checks to restrict access to campuses, saying troublemakers would get the message if they lose access to the campus.

It wasn’t immediately clear what, if any, discipline the protesters who descended on Columbia Tuesday would be facing.

Rowdy demonstrators formed a picket line and banged drums as scores of students waited in lengthy lines to pass through security and gain access to Columbia's campus Tuesday.
Rowdy demonstrators formed a picket line and banged drums as scores of students waited in lengthy lines to pass through security and gain access to Columbia’s campus Tuesday. James Keivom
The protesters -- including many brandishing signs declaring "resist until victory” -- could be heard chanting "over 100,000 dead, Columbia your hands are red."
The protesters — including many brandishing signs declaring “Resist until victory” — could be heard chanting, “Over 100,000 dead, Columbia, your hands are red.” James Keivom

Neither Columbia nor Barnard immediately returned requests for comment.

Frustrated students waiting to show their ID cards railed against the protesters for trying to disrupt the start of the semester.

“There’s a lot of angry students who are blocking access to campus and trying to encourage students not to come to campus in solidarity with Gaza,” Aryeh Krischer, 28, told The Post as he tried to gain access.

“It’s certainly inconvenient,” the grad student added.

Lyell, a junior who only just transferred to Columbia, said he was caught off guard by the protests.

“I wasn’t expecting this. Not at all,” the political science student said, adding that he was certain to miss his very first class due to the heightened security measures and saga unfolding outside.

“I knew there were protests last semester and thought it would start back up. I don’t have an issue with protests but the university messed up by not having enough entrances for students to get in without delay,” Lyell said.

Pro-Palestinian supporters hold a picket line outside Columbia University, Tuesday, Sep. 3
Pro-Palestinian supporters form a picket line outside Columbia University, Tuesday, Sep. 3. AP

“It was pretty obvious this was going to happen because last week there were students with signs, so you’d assume it was going to happen again.”

Still, some students and faculty said they believed major disruptions on campus were all but inevitable.

“We are hoping for the best, but we are all wagering how long before we go into total lockdown again,” Rebecca Korbin, a history professor who served on Columbia’s antisemitism task force, said.

“There haven’t been any monumental changes, so I don’t know why the experience in the fall would look much different than what it did in the spring.”

“There’s been a lot of efforts made by the university to hear and listen to students, including Jewish students. The bigger problem is there is a lot of denialism,” Krischer added.

Statue splashed in red paint. Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
A statue splashed in red paint at Columbia University. Alon Levin for NY Post

“I have been sitting in the room when professors have denied certain antisemitic incidents never occurred at Columbia. I think antisemitism is a problem at Columbia but it will never get better until people acknowledge it’s a problem.”

PhD student Alon Levin said he was frustrated that protests picked up where they left off last semester.

“This is a continuation of their promises for continued escalation from last semester,” the 26-year-old said, adding it would be a “test for the new administration.”

Freshman Columbia and Barnard students Lila and Shoshana, who are Jewish, hold up signs as they counter-protest pro-Palestinian supporters outside Columbia University
Freshman Columbia and Barnard students Lila and Shoshana, who are Jewish, hold up signs as they counter-protest pro-Palestinian supporters outside Columbia University. REUTERS

“I expected protest but I didn’t expect the statue to be defaced. It shows a complete disrespect and sheer hostile intent,” Levin continued.  

“The protesters are not here to engage in discussion. They have a hateful agenda and they’re dragging the rest of the school down with them.”

Meanwhile, anti-Israel student organizers were undeterred and had already promised to ramp up their actions — including future encampments.

A protester is arrested outside of Barnard College. James Keivom

“As long as Columbia continues to invest and to benefit from Israeli apartheid, the students will continue to resist,” Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student, said.

“Not only protests and encampments, the limit is the sky.”

The UnMaskHateNY Coalition, a campaign formed by black and Jewish civil rights leaders working to outlaw bigots and lawbreakers from hiding their identities with masks while intimidating New Yorkers or committing crimes, said the ruckus at Columbia and Barnard on day one is an ominous sign for the school term ahead.

“The semester is hours old, yet we are already seeing examples of bad actors hiding their identities to target and terrorize. We stand for a safe New York for all, free of Ku Klux Klan tactics in which masks, face coverings and hoods are used to menace with no accountability.” 

With Post wires