Jewish Voice for Peace calls on Columbia University President Katarina Armstrong to rescind all disciplinary charges against anti-war student protesters and to stand up for its core values. Yesterday, the University announced it had expelled, suspended, or temporarily revoked the degrees of dozens of students involved in the Hind’s (Hamilton) Hall takeover protests last year.
These disciplinary measures are the latest in a long and futile series of actions undertaken by the Columbia administration in an attempt to appease President Trump’s authoritarian demands: its once-open campus is shuttered to the public, protest is severely restricted, and administrators forced out world-renown legal scholar Katherine Franke. Last week, Columbia also remained silent when the Department of Homeland Security abducted and detained graduate student Mahmoud Khalil last week.
Despite Columbia’s efforts to aid Trump’s authoritarian crackdown, the Trump administration has revoked $400 million in grants and contracts to the university. Yesterday evening, ICE agents conducted raids on two of its student dorms.
As Jews, we know that silence and complicity will only invite further violence against the most vulnerable members of Columbia University’s community. Jewish Voice for Peace urges Columbia University to stand up for its core values. Call for the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil, revoke disciplinary charges against protesters, and take concrete action to protect its threatened community members from authoritarian threats they face.
Jonah Rubin, Sr. Manager of Campus Organizing, Jewish Voice for Peace:
“Yesterday, as Jews around the world prepared to celebrate Purim, Columbia University drastically expanded its draconian punishment of students who participated in last year’s anti-war protests. The Purim story focuses on Esther and Vashti, feminist icons renowned for their ometz lev, their bravery in speaking truth to power, even at great risk to themselves. Columbia, on the other hand, displays tremendous cowardice, prostrating before Trump and the authoritarian right. History does not look kindly on institutions that rush to aid authoritarian crackdowns. It is crucial that Columbia University stand up for its core values — including the right to engage in research, teaching, and protest about Palestine — rather than acquiescing to an authoritarian government bent on the destruction of institutions of higher education.”
JVP staff and students are available for comment
This content originally appeared on Common Dreams and was authored by Newswire Editor.
Newswire Editor | Radio Free (2025-03-14T19:33:30+00:00) Columbia University Went All In on Repressing Student Protest. It Didn’t Matter.. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2025/03/14/columbia-university-went-all-in-on-repressing-student-protest-it-didnt-matter/
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