Columbia University has issued a strong warning to students participating in anti-Israel protests, stating that any attempts to set up encampments on campus will be dismantled by the university, and those involved may face arrest.
This cautionary message follows the university’s discovery of confidential plans to recreate last year’s protest, during which students seized control of Hamilton Hall and clashed with police officers wearing riot gear. The disruptive incident resulted in over 200 arrests as students demonstrated against Israel’s actions in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that resulted in over 1,200 casualties.
“We have received information about potential intentions to create encampments on Columbia’s premises,” outlined a public safety advisory released by the university. “We would like to make it unequivocally clear that the establishment of encampments on Columbia’s grounds is in violation of university regulations.”
Columbia University has warned the college will tear down any encampments – and potentially arrest anti-Israel agitators – if last year’s events are repeated. Tents pictured on the campus on April 29, 2024. (Reuters/David Dee Delgado)
Last year’s on-campus protest started just over 12 months ago and university leaders aim to stamp out any recurrence of the chaos and disorder that unfolded. The Ivy League college was forced to cancel its main graduation ceremony, citing safety concerns amid ongoing protests and a wave of antisemitism gripping the grounds.
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik stepped down after months of criticism of her handling of the protests, many of which devolved into clashes between anti-Israel demonstrators and police, and antisemitism on campus.
Mahmoud Khalil talks to the press during the press briefing at an encampment at Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus on June 1, 2024.
The announcement by Columbia comes after NBC News reported that more than 100 people gathered in Brooklyn on Tuesday to discuss ways to re-ignite on-campus protests later this week.
A form being dispersed by organizers and obtained by NBC tells participants to prepare for “prolonged jail time” and how emergency contacts can access their apartments or homes.
Organizers cited, in part, the Trump administration’s efforts to pull federal funds from the university as a reason for this year’s protest as well as what they said was the “abduction of our comrade Mahmoud Khalil.” Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder, has been arrested by federal immigration authorities who say he was one of last year’s ringleaders and promoted Hamas.
Columbia has come under intense scrutiny over the rise in antisemitism on campus with Trump canceling $400 million in grants to the university in March.
That led to Columbia caving to certain demands in an attempt to restore funding. The move enraged organizers in Brooklyn.
Columbia has come under intense scrutiny over the rise in antisemitism on campus with President Donald Trump canceling $400 million in grants to the university in March. (Getty Images)
The Ivy League school agreed to ban masks for the purpose of concealing identity, empower 36 campus police officers with new powers to arrest students, and appoint a senior vice provost with broad authority to oversee the department of the Middle East, South Asian and African Studies, as well as the Center for Palestine Studies.
Sources familiar with the negotiations told Fox News that meeting the demands doesn’t mean that Columbia will get its $400 million in funding back, but that it’s just a precondition to opening talks.
The reforms were acknowledged positively by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, but the funds have not yet been reinstated.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano and Alexis McAdams contributed to this report
