Columbia University Protests Revive Spirit of 1968 Movement

Protests have erupted at Columbia University, with students camping out on campus since April 17, calling for the Ivy League school to divest from companies and institutions that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine. The protests have drawn parallels to the 1968 student movement, with over 100 students arrested on April 18, exactly 56 years after a similar protest against the Vietnam War and gentrification of Harlem.

Why this matters: The revival of the 1968 student movement at Columbia University highlights the ongoing struggle for social justice and accountability in institutions of higher education. As the protests continue to gain momentum, they may inspire similar movements at other universities, pushing for greater transparency and responsibility in investments and policies.

The protests began with students setting up an encampment on campus on April 17. The following day, over 100 protesters, including student Maryam Alwan, were arrested and the tent encampment was removed after Columbia University President Minouche Shafik gave the green light to the New York Police Department. Shafik stated that the encampment "violates all of our new policies, severely disrupts campus life, and creates a harassing and intimidating environment for many of our students."

Maryam Alwan, who was arrested and suspended for participating in the protests, described the tense story on campus. "It's been almost an all-out war between the majority of the student body and the administration," Alwan said. She recounted her experience during the police raid on Tuesday night, stating, "I was present as hundreds, I believe over 100 police officers came onto campus in riot gear for the second time in two weeks and arrested over 100 students... And I was one of the over 100 students that was arrested and suspended for the encampment two weeks ago."

The protests at Columbia University bear a striking resemblance to the 1968 student movement, which saw demonstrations against the Vietnam War and the gentrification of Harlem. On April 18, 1968, exactly 56 years before the current protests, students occupied several buildings on campus, leading to a violent confrontation with the police and numerous arrests. The 1968 protests at Columbia University became a symbol of the broader social and political unrest of the era.

President Shafik condemned the actions of the protesters, stating, "Students and outside activists breaking Hamilton Hall doors, mistreating our Public Safety officers and maintenance staff, and damaging property are acts of destruction, not political speech." However, the university's investments, which are the focus of the protests, are not public information and remain largely unknown.

The protests at Columbia University have reignited the spirit of the 1968 student movement, with students demanding change and accountability from the institution. As tensions continue to run high on campus, the outcome of these demonstrations remains uncertain. The arrests of over 100 students and the suspension of Maryam Alwan have only further fueled the determination of the protesters to continue their fight against what they see as the university's complicity in Israeli apartheid and occupation.

Key Takeaways

• Students at Columbia University protest Israeli apartheid, occupation, and genocide, demanding divestment.
• Over 100 students arrested on April 18, 56 years after similar 1968 protest against Vietnam War.
• Protests draw parallels to 1968 student movement, pushing for social justice and accountability.
• Columbia University President Minouche Shafik condemns protests, citing property damage and disruption.
• University's investments remain unknown, fueling protesters' demands for transparency and change.