Difference between revisions of "Gaza Solidarity Encampment"

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==April 19==
 
==April 19==
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Protesters remain on West South Lawn.
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Protesters remained on West South Lawn.
  
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At around 1:30 PM, University Senator Jalaj Mehta sends out an email "In collaboration with several Columbia University Student Senators" to all students, condemning the university's decision to bring police onto campus.
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At around 1:30 PM, University Senator Jalaj Mehta sent out an email "In collaboration with several Columbia University Student Senators" to all students, condemning the university's decision to bring police onto campus.
  
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At around 5:45 PM, Assistant Director of Student Engagement Julia Dooley announces the cancellation of the Activities Fair scheduled for Sunday, April 21st as part of the annual [[Days on Campus]] event.
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At around 5:45 PM, Assistant Director of Student Engagement Julia Dooley announced the cancellation of the Activities Fair scheduled for Sunday, April 21st as part of the annual [[Days on Campus]] event.
  
 
Later that day, Columbia begins issuing formal notices of interim suspension to students having participated in the encampment.
 
Later that day, Columbia begins issuing formal notices of interim suspension to students having participated in the encampment.
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 +
==April 20-28==
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Negotiations with the administration took place.
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==April 29==
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Shafik announced that negotiations failed. That night, students occupied [[Hamilton Hall]], in a major escalation of the protests. A second encampment was also established on [[Lewisohn]] Lawn.
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==April 30==
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The university authorized [[NYPD]] to come back to campus. The police cleared Hamilton and removed the encampment.
  
 
=Sources=
 
=Sources=

Revision as of 18:20, 4 May 2024

The Gaza Solidarity Encampment of 2024 was one of many protests taking place on Columbia's Morningside campus to express Palestinian support, condemn Israel's occupation of the Gaza strip, and demand the school's divestment from Israel following the Israel-Hamas war that started on October 7th, 2023. Starting on April 17th, 2024, this protest was special because it took the form of an encampment where students planned to stay in tents day and night on the eastern part of South Lawn until the school met their demands. The encampment was disrupted on April 18th when President Minouche Shafik authorized the NYPD to take action, but quickly was reestablished on the western part of the lawn. However, the protest escalated with the occupation of Hamilton Hall on the night between April 29 and April 30 and the NYPD was again called in to clear both the encampment and the occupation.

Timeline

April 17

Around 4 AM

Approximately 50 tents were set up on East South Lawn. Protestors put up banners reading "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" and "Liberated Zone". A substantial NYPD presence was noted outside the university as soon as the encampment had been established.

Morning-Noon

Columbia President Minouche Shafik testifies in House antisemitism probe over the university's response to antisemitism.

Evening

The university begins handing out formal letters informing the students participating in the protest that if they do not stop immediately, they will be subject to sanctions up to and including suspension from the school.

April 18

In a letter, Shafik authorizes the NYPD to intervene. Starting at around 1PM, the NYPD's NYPD's Strategic Response Group enters the encampment and begins arresting protesters who refuse to leave. A group of Jewish counterprotesters congregated to celebrate the university's response, waving American and Israeli flags. A protest on 114th Street and Amsterdam Avenue formed, but was dispersed to allow buses with detained protesters to exit. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators recovered signage and repitched several tents. After many arrests, the lawn was cleared and obstacles were placed down by the university, presumably to prevent another encampment.

Protesters soon begin gathering on West South Lawn, continuing to chant in support of Palestine and waiving flag, but without setting up tents.

Most exterior campus gates are closed, and Public Safety Officers guard remaining entrances and restrict campus access to CUID holders. A similar practice was observed during earlier protests, but the number of open gates is now significantly lower.

In a press conference, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, alongside top New York Police Department officials, announces that police made more than 108 arrests during the sweep of the encampment.

At around 7:30 PM, the Student Affairs Committee sends out an email to all students, condemning the university's decision to bring police onto campus.

April 19

Protesters remained on West South Lawn.

At around 1:30 PM, University Senator Jalaj Mehta sent out an email "In collaboration with several Columbia University Student Senators" to all students, condemning the university's decision to bring police onto campus.

At around 5:45 PM, Assistant Director of Student Engagement Julia Dooley announced the cancellation of the Activities Fair scheduled for Sunday, April 21st as part of the annual Days on Campus event.

Later that day, Columbia begins issuing formal notices of interim suspension to students having participated in the encampment.

April 20-28

Negotiations with the administration took place.

April 29

Shafik announced that negotiations failed. That night, students occupied Hamilton Hall, in a major escalation of the protests. A second encampment was also established on Lewisohn Lawn.

April 30

The university authorized NYPD to come back to campus. The police cleared Hamilton and removed the encampment.

Sources

See also

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