Columbia professors organize urgent vigil to oppose how university handled Trump’s actions

On Monday afternoon, a gathering of individuals persisted in their march and encircled the primary entrance of Columbia University. In a display of fervor, they played loud drums and vociferated the slogan, “Long live the intifada.”

This demonstration followed a previous event where professors of Columbia University convened for what they termed as an “emergency vigil” to address the institution’s decision to adopt a series of policy alterations. These changes encompassed a revamp of protest regulations and an immediate assessment of the Middle Eastern studies department, which were prompted by pressures from the Trump administration.

The demonstrators congregated at the university’s entrance located on 116th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, brandishing placards bearing messages such as “defend democracy,” “defend teaching,” and “Columbia, fight back.”

Though the arrest of prominent anti-Israel activist and legal permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil by federal immigration officials was mentioned, activists used the opportunity to speak about numerous grievances with the school. 

Anya Schiffrin, the director of the Technology, Media, and Communications specialization at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, spoke at the “emergency vigil.” (FOX)

Protesters also took to social media to urge students and faculty members not to show up to school or work, and to wear a mask to protest the mask ban. 

“We respect that there will be vigorous debate on campus about issues of academic freedom and protest, and we welcome that debate,” a Columbia University spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

“Columbia is fully committed to the steps we announced last week to continue to combat antisemitism and all forms of discrimination and harassment. Our focus will always be on our core mission to teach, create, and advance knowledge while protecting free expression,” it concluded. 

Earlier this month, the Trump administration pulled $400 million in research grants and other funding over how the university handled protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. In order to consider restoring those funds and billions more in future grants, federal officials demanded nine separate changes to the university’s academic and security policies.

On Sunday, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” that Columbia University is “on the right track” toward recovering federal funding after the elite New York City university agreed to implement a host of policy changes demanded by the Trump administration.

McMahon described “great conversations” with Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, who announced Friday that the university would put its Middle East studies department under new supervision and overhaul its rules for protests and student discipline. It also agreed to adopt a new definition of antisemitism and expand “intellectual diversity” by staffing up its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, according to an outline posted on its website.

“She said she knew that this was her responsibility to make sure that children on her campus were safe,” McMahon said. “She wanted to make sure there was no discrimination of any kind. She wanted to address any systemic issues that were identified relative to the antisemitism on campus.”

Fox News’ Sandy Ibrahim and The Associated Press contributed to this report.