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Planned Walkouts at NYC Universities to Protest Israel on Anniversary of Hamas Attack Sparks Tension
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Students and professors at several New York City universities are planning widespread walkouts on Monday, October 7, in protest of Israel on the anniversary of Hamas’ terror attack on the country in 2023. According to reports from The New York Post, the walkouts are expected to take place on Monday across at least a dozen college campuses in the city, with Columbia University set to become the focal point of the demonstrations. The walkouts, which will begin around 11:30 a.m., are part of a broader movement that has drawn sharp divisions on campuses already fraught with tension over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
At NYU Abu Dhabi, students yells “Free Palestine” at the graduation ceremony and gets himself deported. The campus bans Palestinian flags. pic.twitter.com/SFVWvyradq
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) July 11, 2024
Law enforcement sources have informed The New York Post that both police and campus security are prepared to monitor the situation, especially at Columbia University, where protests and clashes between pro- and anti-Israel groups have escalated over the past year. Jewish students, meanwhile, are organizing their own vigil in remembrance of the 1,200 Israelis brutally massacred in the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack, a chilling event that saw Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists cross into Israel, killing civilians and taking 251 hostages.
The planned protests are reminiscent of last year’s turmoil at Columbia University, where anti-Israel demonstrations frequently resulted in confrontations between opposing student groups. According to The New York Post, Columbia became the epicenter of campus protests in New York, with an anti-Israel encampment set up on the school’s main quad. These protests led to increased security measures, including checkpoints around campus, which created long lines for students simply trying to attend classes. The situation grew so tense that, after the encampment was dismantled, protesters barricaded themselves inside a school building, leading to an NYPD raid to clear out the demonstrators.
RIGHT NOW in NYC: Protesters march despite the snow storm to demand a free Palestine! End all U.S. aid to Israel!
pic.twitter.com/PUz2UdXcX3— Dr.Sam Youssef Ph.D.,M.Sc.,DPT. (@drhossamsamy65) January 7, 2024
This year’s planned walkouts signal the continued polarization over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on college campuses across the city. While anti-Israel protesters plan to voice their opposition to Israeli policies and actions, particularly in Gaza, Jewish students and supporters of Israel intend to counter the demonstrations by holding vigils in remembrance of those whose lives were snuffed out in the 2023 attack.
As per the information provided in The New York Post report, this year’s protests will once again test the delicate balance between free speech and campus security at universities such as Columbia, where last year’s demonstrations not only led to confrontations but also to accusations that the administration was not adequately addressing the needs and safety of its students. Jewish students in particular have voiced concerns over growing anti-Semitism on campus, a trend mirrored at universities across the country where the Israeli-Hamas war has become a flashpoint for unbridled Jew hatred.
Live: Faculty walkout in front of Bobst Library happening now! Come down NYU community & join us! pic.twitter.com/IEXJNHSnwz
— NYU Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine (@NYUFJPalestine) May 3, 2024
As protests are set to begin, university administrations are preparing for potential disruptions as they ensure that security measures are in place to prevent violence or intimidation between groups. The walkouts and counter-vigils reflect the ongoing struggle within academic institutions to navigate such manifestations of blatant anti-Semitism. As The New York Post report highlighted, the demonstrations and vigils are likely to serve as yet another chapter in the ongoing struggle over how universities handle politically charged issues and the rights of students to express their views in both peaceful and confrontational ways.
