Anti-Israel demonstrators disrupted a class on the history of the Jewish state at Columbia University on Tuesday, with agitators breaking into classrooms and handing out hateful leaflets, sparking brief clashes between students. Ta.
The shocking act was captured on video, as keffiyeh-wearing mob agitators entered a “Modern History of Israel” class on the first day of the semester and handed out pamphlets to students. One person was shown speaking to the camera and slamming the class. Zionism.
One member of the class said, “We don't need that,'' and some of the flyers were quickly crumpled up by the students.
Other students in the classroom urged the protesters to leave, while the instructor tried to herd them out the door, according to a video posted online by Colombian Jewish Israeli Student X. account.
“Please take off your mask,” one student told the protesters. “Why don't you take off your mask?”
Another frustrated student said: “This is a civil rights violation. We're trying to learn.”
Among the leaflets handed out were one that read “Crush Zionism” with boots stamping on the Star of David symbol, and another that read “Burn Zionism”. A social media post by a Columbia University student.
Katrina Armstrong, interim president of Columbia Schools, decried the disruption to schooling. released a statement later Tuesday.
“We strongly condemn this disruption and the flyer containing violent images that cannot be tolerated on our campus or in our community,” she said.
“In Columbia University classrooms, no student group has the right to disturb another student group. Interfering with academic activity is a violation of the university's rules of conduct and, depending on the nature of the disturbance, may cause interference with other student groups. This may be a violation of policy.”
The university president, who replaced former president Minoush Shafiq at the beginning of the academic year last summer, vowed to “act swiftly to investigate and address this conduct.”
“We want to be absolutely clear that anti-Semitism, or any other form of discrimination, harassment or intimidation against members of our community, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Armstrong said. .
The riot was part of a larger protest that took place on the first day of classes for the spring semester on Tuesday.
Protesters occupied campus buildings and green space on two separate occasions last spring semester.
The elite Big Apple has been roiled by anti-Israel demonstrations since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, sparking a broader conflict between the two sides in Gaza.
Hamas terrorists brutally murdered 1,200 Israelis that day and took another 240 hostages. Israel responded with months of attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing more than 47,100 people, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
However, a ceasefire agreement has held in place in the Gaza Strip in recent days, which could lead to peace in the region and the release of all living hostages held in the Palestinian enclave.
Israel supporters condemned the Colombian protesters while praising the students who stood up to them in the classroom.
“We love our proud @Columbia students who will not sit back and take it anymore. Pro-terrorist pro-Hamas harassers, of course they will cover their faces! The Jewish community is strong and has a bright future.” said Todd Richman, majority co-chair of the Israel Democratic Party. I wrote it to X.
“I’m so proud of these young men and women!!!”
