By: Fern Sidman

New York City, a melting pot of diversity and activism, witnessed a wave of palpable tension on Wednesday as students from various universities staged walkouts in support of the Palestinian cause and against Israel and its policies. The demonstrations took place against the backdrop of escalating friction and open hostilities over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.  The Gothamist.com web site reported that students from institutions such as the City University of New York (CUNY) Grad Center, Columbia University, New York University (NYU), Brooklyn College, and Hunter College participated in the walkout, demanding a ceasefire and those universities immediately divest from Israel.

By 1 p.m. on Wednesday, hundreds of students had gathered in front of Columbia University’s iconic Low Memorial Library. The Gothamist.com reported that the main steps and the surrounding area were filled with impassioned students who aimed to express their solidarity with Palestinians and the humanitarian crisis that they say exists there.  A small group of counter-protesters at the Columbia demonstration waved Israeli flags and occasionally engaged in verbal clashes with the main group, highlighting the complex and deeply rooted nature of the conflict.

@CUNYLaw students held a die-in as part of national student #Walkouts4Gaza demanding an immediate ceasefire & an end to the U.S.-backed blockade on Gaza & U.S. military funding to Israel. The die-in lasted 6 minutes to honor & mourn the 6,000+ stolen Palestinian lives. ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏾🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/raJVAdLRyT

— CUNY4Palestine (@Cuny4P) October 26, 2023

Many of these walkouts were reportedly organized by National Students for Justice in Palestine, in collaboration with other student activist organizations. The Gothamist.com also reported that the demonstrations were in response to the deteriorating situation in Gaza, which had escalated weeks after the brutal October 7th attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel.

Over 1400 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered by Hamas on that fateful day and close to 5000 sustained serious injuries.  Of that number, over 300 Israel Defense Forces soldiers were killed. During their deadly seven hour rampage through close to two dozen communities in southern Israel and at the Supernova Music Festival, the Hamas miscreants shot people execution style, raped women, murdered babies and beheaded them and burned people alive.

Not a word concerning the atrocities committed by Hamas against innocent civilians and soldiers were uttered by the student protesters.

The presence of law enforcement was evident, as a dozen NYPD officers set up barricades outside Columbia University and helped check students’ IDs as they entered the campus, according to the Gothamist report. Two police helicopters were also seen circling the area, reflecting the authorities’ efforts to maintain order during the protests.

Jewish students at @cooperunion are trapped inside the school library with the doors locked as pro-Palestinian, Hamas sympathizers moved their “protest” indoors once they found out Jews were sheltering inside. Imagine the if the roles were reversed. pic.twitter.com/xNwIyLnI6X

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 25, 2023

The spirit of solidarity extended to other universities in the city, with St. Francis College, The New School, and Cooper Union also staging protests.  According to sources, “Jewish students were locked in the school library as a pro Hamas rally outside of the Cooper Union building learned the Jews were afraid and sitting in the library. They then brought the protest inside and were barricading all exits so the Jewish students could not leave. Police were called but were afraid to get involved. Security locked the Jewish students in as they expressed concern that they could not protect the Jews. Later in the day, police escorted the Jewish students out through an underground evacuation route. “

The CUNY campuses, including Lehman College, Brooklyn College, Baruch College, Hunter College, and CUNY Graduate Center, played a significant role in this city-wide protest that has targeted Israel.

At CUNY Graduate Center in Midtown, hundreds of protesters emerged from their classes at 3:30 p.m., brandishing handmade signs and chanting slogans such as “From Palestine to Mexico, all the walls have got to go!” The students’ impassioned voices resonated with passing taxis and buses, earning cheers and honks of support. According to the report on the Gothamist.com website, Tatiana Cozzarelli, an adjunct professor, led several chants, underscoring the call for the United States to stop its financial support of Israel. She emphasized that the protests were part of a nationwide movement to end the siege on “Palestine” and promote freedom for its people.

Suzanne Bronski, a spokesperson for Baruch College, emphasized that the school was taking “extra precautions … as needed” to ensure the safety of its students. The Gothamist.com report indicated that she clarified that students have the right to leave a class peacefully, and any absences would be addressed in accordance with a professor’s standing class participation or attendance policy. Importantly, she pointed out that Baruch College did not officially endorse these student walkouts and that participating students did not represent the institution, according to the report.

As of 4:00 p.m., the NYPD had not reported any arrests at any of the college protests, indicating that the demonstrations were largely peaceful.

The solidarity demonstrations, however, were not the only gatherings taking place in the city. Two pro-Israeli demonstrations were also expected, including a protest outside the Israeli consulate aimed at supporting efforts to rescue the 220 hostages that were taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7^th in southern Israel.  The Gothamist.com also reported that Zionist groups and organizations opposing anti-Semitism were also scheduled to gather at Columbia University, underscoring the complex and multifaceted nature of the ongoing conflict.

A young woman who chose to remain anonymous for safety reasons is an education major at Brooklyn College. She told the Jewish Voice on Wednesday night that, “I am Jewish and I must say that is becoming increasingly difficult to be a Jew at Brooklyn College. It is a very menacing and intimidating environment. Moreover, everyone in my classes are Muslims and the curriculum is decidedly anti-Zionist.”

Her mother told the Jewish Voice that she is concerned for her daughter’s welfare and hopes that an atmosphere of peace and tolerance can once again become the norm in the city’s institutions of higher learning.