Student agitators at Columbia University began their spring semester by storming an Israeli history class, video shows.
A group of students wearing keffiyeh masks were seen distributing flyers that depicted a smashed Star of David under a boot, a burning Israeli flag, and militants carrying weapons, as reported in accounts and videos posted on X.
The flyers contained messages such as “the enemy will not see tomorrow,” “Burn Zionism to the ground,” and “Crush Zionism,” as shown in images shared by Columbia student Lishi Baker from the class of 2026.
“On the first day of the History of Modern Israel course at Columbia, masked protesters disrupted the class in an attempt to intimidate,” wrote the student. “This incident raises questions about ‘academic freedom’ at Columbia in 2025!”
Anti-Israel protesters demonstrate outside Columbia University on Tuesday, Sep. 3, in New York City. (AP/Yuki Iwamura)
He told the outlet that just before the protesters barged into his classroom, he told his students that they would “learn the two narratives: one of the Palestinians and one of the Israelis.”
“It did not discourage me; on the contrary, it just makes me feel that it is so important to teach and to study Israel from a real historian who this is his field of expertise,” Shilon told the outlet.
According to an online description of Shilon’s course, the class explores Israeli politics from the state’s establishment to the present day, focusing on the demographics that “create the fabric of Israeli politics and society” including the “Palestinian citizens of Israel.”
Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, said that the institution “strongly condemn[s] this disruption, as well as the fliers that included violent imagery that is unacceptable on our campus and in our community.”
“No group of students has a right to disrupt another group of students in a Columbia classroom. Disrupting academic activities constitutes a violation of the Rules of University conduct, and the nature of the disruption may constitute violations of other University policies,” Armstrong wrote in a statement.
“We will move quickly to investigate and address this act. We want to be absolutely clear that any act of antisemitism, or other form of discrimination, harassment, or intimidation against members of our community is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
On campus, protesters with the Columbia University Apartheid Divest and the school’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter protested in support of “the liberation of Palestine beyond a ceasefire,” blocking street traffic as they marched outside the university.
Among phrases spray-painted around the campus the night before were “Gaza Rises Columbia Falls,” the Free-Beacon reported.
