Protesters Burn Diplomas Outside Columbia University
A group of anti-Israel demonstrators made a bold statement outside Columbia University on Wednesday by tearing and burning their diplomas just after graduation ceremonies at the prestigious school.
The scene turned chaotic when many of the protesters, some with their faces covered, linked their actions to a recent arrest of immigration agents in March. They even placed a burned diploma on food trays beside a sign calling for the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a former student facing deportation under the Trump administration.
Amid the sound of drums and rain, protesters chanted phrases like, “Free Palestine,” and accused the university of complicity in genocide.
Although dressed in Columbia’s blue gowns, several demonstrators were seen ripping their diplomas apart, while older individuals—likely non-students—held signs expressing solidarity with graduates.
As tensions escalated, police intervened to extinguish the flames and made at least one arrest, according to the NYPD.
Protesters then moved across the street, where they clashed with law enforcement, attempting to push past barriers but were halted by police vehicles.
The group, known as the Halil-led Apartheid Dibust (CUAD), encourages students to take a stand against the university’s recognition of Professor ZVI Galil, who has served as both dean at Columbia and president of Tel Aviv University.
During the graduation ceremony, which saw over 12,000 alumni and around 25,000 family members and friends in attendance, a sentiment of anger surfaced. One protester pointed out that while thousands of Palestinian children face dire threats in Gaza, the university chose to celebrate individuals perceived as war criminals.
Earlier celebrations were also marred by unrest. At the previous day’s ceremony, students shouted “Free Mahmoud!” in unison, causing a delay as the acting president, Claire Shipman, struggled to regain control.
This incident marks the culmination of ongoing protests at Columbia University linked to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Incidents of dissent have spiked across campus and nationwide since the war began last year, with reports of over 200 arrests during particularly violent confrontations.
Two weeks prior, protests erupted inside a library at the university, reflecting wider frustrations about how university leadership has handled dissent on campus.
