Pro-Palestinian rallies have been keeping several American universities on edge for days. Violent riots and anti-Semitic incidents also occur again and again. A rabbi at Columbia University in New York urged his Jewish students this weekend to stay home for safety. Now the university in question has switched to operating online.
In recent days, there have been too many examples of “intimidating and harassing behavior on our campus,” university president Nemat Shafik wrote in an open letter. “Anti-Semitic statements, as well as other statements intended to hurt and frighten people, are unacceptable and appropriate action will be taken,” she continued. To de-escalate and “give us all an opportunity to consider next steps, I am announcing that all classes on Monday will take place virtually.”
Dozens of arrests on campus
Pro-Palestinian protests began last week calling on the university to divest from companies linked to Israel. More than a hundred protest participants were arrested Thursday after the university called police to the private campus. Tensions then seemed to escalate and the turnout was even greater over the weekend. The protests also spread to other universities.
Bitter disputes at universities
Since the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the resulting war in the Gaza Strip, a deep division has emerged within America’s elite universities over the war in the Middle East. Students, professors and administration are embroiled in bitter disputes that have also spread to online networks. This includes accusations of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and threats to freedom of expression.
Source: Krone
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