After a night of tension, New York’s Columbia University and pro-Palestinian students agreed to negotiate for two more days before a possible full evacuation of the on-campus encampment as part of protests against the war on Gaza.
Anger remains high at some American universities—most notably in New York after, at the urging of their administrations, police arrested a number of students who oppose the war raging in the Palestinian enclave, denouncing US military and diplomatic support for Israel. .
In a press release issued this morning, Columbia’s chancellorship hailed the achievement of “significant progress with student representatives regarding the encampment on the West Lawn” of the prestigious university, located in Manhattan.
“The university will continue the dialogue for another 48 hours”, ie until Friday morning.
In anticipation, “student protesters have pledged to tear down and remove a significant number of tents” and will “ensure that those who are not enrolled at Columbia leave.”
Last night, hundreds of protesters gathered in Brooklyn, following a call by Jewish Voice for Peace, a pro-Palestinian, left-wing Jewish organization, on the occasion of the Jewish Passover.
Some of them were arrested, an AFPTV reporter found.
“I am there because I have to be there. I cannot observe Seder (Jewish Passover ritual) and not talk about Gaza, ignore it. We (Americans) are the instigators of such violence, such hatred, it’s terrible,” said Rebecca Larry from the scene.
Yesterday, the police proceeded to bring 120 people in front of the premises of New York University. With these protest movements, the demonstrators are calling for an end to the war in Gaza and a boycott of the institutions of any activity related to Israel.
This is NOT what vile antisemitism looks like. The media is not being fair and even handed about the Columbia campus protests.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) April 24, 2024
At Yale University, in Connecticut (northeast), about 50 students were also brought in.
Each time, the police intervene at the request of the university chancellors.
Read also: Columbia: Threatens Students With National Guard Intervention – ‘We Will Not Back Down’
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