2024-04-22 17:22:32
A hundred pro-Palestinian students who invaded green areas of the campus of the prestigious Columbia University, in New York, were arrested by the Police, the day after its rector intervened before Congress to defend herself against accusations of anti-Semitism.
“Police officers intervened to ensure the safety of the campus, students and staff. “They made more than 108 arrests and made sure there was no violence or injuries,” New York Mayor Eric Adams announced at a press conference.
In their protest against Israel’s war in Gaza, the students demanded that Columbia University, which has an exchange program with Tel Aviv, boycott all activities related to Israel.
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The arrests for “intrusion” and the removal of dozens of tents from the campus lawn attracted dozens more protesters in their support, who continued to clash with the police at the university gates, AFP journalists observed.
The university’s rector, Nemat Shafik, called for police intervention, stating that the organizers had “violated a long list of security rules.” Shafik attended a congressional hearing Wednesday to defend her university against accusations of anti-Semitism.
“Anti-Semitism has no place on our campus, and I am personally committed to doing everything I can to combat it,” Shafik responded to lawmakers. “Columbia strives to be a place free of hate and discrimination in all its forms, and we condemn the anti-Semitism that has become so pervasive,” he added.
Since the beginning of the conflict on October 7, Republicans have accused the directors of prestigious American universities of not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism, in the wake of demonstrations by pro-Palestinian students.
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The controversy led to the resignation of University of Pennsylvania Chancellor Elizabeth Magill in December and her counterpart at Harvard, Claudine Gay, in January, following a controversial congressional hearing.
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2024-04-22 17:22:32