I Stand With The Student Body At Columbia

After watching the footage of police officers making their way inside Hamilton Hall at Columbia University to arrest several of the protesters occupying the building on Tuesday April 30, I felt a wave of restlessness.

In these student-led protests at Columbia, in addition to the repeated chanting, the demonstrators stormed inside Hamilton Hall, smashed some windows, and created human chains right outside the building, while barricading the interior with zip ties.

I understand that breaking into a building, occupying it, and smashing windows is disruptive but at least these protesters were not shooting, shoving, or killing anyone, much like our law enforcement who continues to exercise brutality time and time again. Even though they were causing chaos, these protesters were not physically harming or hurting anyone.

And if smashing windows is considered disruptive, then what about the incessant disruption that has been taking place for more than 200 days now in Gaza, leaving thousands of innocent civilians dead, most of whom include women and children?! What about them? Why is Columbia continuing to maintain business ties with Israel knowing that the nation is promoting genocide? Why does it not go through with divestment? And how can President Minouche Shafik allow this?

When we ask questions about the people of Gaza, it seems as though we are met with silence. There is no answer. And by arresting the student protesters at Columbia, the administration has not only stripped them of their right to free speech but has shown they do not care about their students nor their faculty. Why are students being silenced for speaking up about injustice? Again, there is no answer.

Because of the students at Columbia, other universities across the country unified in solidarity of Gaza, leading protests on their campuses. Taking on this initiative was pivotal because apart from Muslim students, individuals from other ethnic groups also came together to advocate for the people of Gaza.

I felt a sense of pride for all the students who proactively took part in these protests and persevered through this tense time. I commend their courage, dedication and boldness to speak up and remain uninhibited and unrestrained till the last second.