Columbia Uni threatens protesters: Decamp or 'alternative options'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Apr 2024 09:41
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The school's president sets a Monday midnight deadline for protesters to remove camps, warning that the university will resort to "alternative options".

Students peacefully protesting against the Israeli genocide in Gaza in an encampment zone on the campus of Columbia University, in New York on April 22, 2024. (AFP)

The President of Columbia University imposed an ultimatum on students peacefully protesting against the Israeli genocide in Gaza: either reach an agreement with the administration to end the encampment or the school would resort to a different approach to dismantle it.

Minouche Shafik set a Monday midnight deadline for the protesting bodies to remove the camps. Meanwhile, students have shown no signs that they will succumb to the threats and call off the encampment, with more flocking to the demonstration site to face police forces gearing up to storm the crowds at the request of Shafik.

According to social media users, the NYPD dispatched its "counterterrorism" forces to the protest site.

“Counterterrorism” NYPD forces are now arriving to Columbia campus pic.twitter.com/tltsRsjA0F
— Jeremy Loffredo (@loffredojeremy) April 24, 2024

The US Senate passed a bill on Monday to provide the Israeli occupation with over $26 billion in funds and weapons as the genocide in Gaza continues for more than 200 days, sparking even further outrage among protesters across the country.

Counter terrorism police have been called in to stop the anti-genocide protesters at Colombia University…

Because peacefully protesting against your government aiding a genocide is now considered terrorism…🇺🇸🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/pZknzgJSbb
— Pelham (@Resist_05) April 24, 2024

“For several days, a small group of faculty, administrators, and University Senators have been in dialogue with student organizers to discuss the basis for dismantling the encampment, dispersing, and following university policies going forward. Those talks are facing a deadline of midnight tonight to reach an agreement,” Shafik said.

“I very much hope these discussions are successful. If they are not, we will have to consider alternative options for clearing the West Lawn and restoring calm to campus so that students can complete the term and graduate.”

End the genocide in Gaza

Universities across the United States have witnessed a historic surge in student protests in support of Palestine and Gaza, calling for ending all agreements with "Israel" and divesting from the occupation entity. Students also demanded an end to US support to "Israel" and involvement in the genocidal war.

Police forces have been dispatched to campuses across multiple states, most notably to Columbia University, to crack down on students who set up a protest encampment last week, which has since spread across other universities in the states.

In Gaza, the Ministry of Health stated on Tuesday that the number of Palestinians killed as a result of the ongoing Israeli genocidal war since October 7 has risen to 34,183 and those injured to 77,143, noting that many victims of the aggression remain trapped under rubble and on roads inaccessible to ambulance and civil defense crews.

Shafik had earlier called in the NYPD to remove the camps amid a strong struggle from protesters. Over 100 activists were arrested during a police raid on the demonstration zone.

However, less than 24 hours later, the protesters reestablished their encampment.