At Columbia University, Butler Library was seized by over 80 masked pro-Palestinian protestors, including students from both Columbia University and Barnard College, during finals week. Strikingly enough (or maybe not so striking, given the irony), 11% of protestors identified as gender non-conforming or non-binary, which is inherently contradictory to the oppressive nature of Hamas, which has historically oppressed LGBTQ+ individuals. For these protesters to support an organization that stands in direct opposition to the values of gender freedom and equality is, frankly, pretty difficult to wrap your head around. 

The protestors, affiliated with Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), renamed the space “Basel Al-Araj Popular University,” in honor of a Palestinian terrorist. Demonstrators distributed pamphlets while chanting slogans like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Palestine will be free, there is only one solution: the Intifada revolution” — phrases which support the destruction of Israel and support Hamas ideology. 

This occupation was not merely a protest, but a deliberate act of intimidation. Protestors not only disrupted the academic environment on campus but also injured two university safety officers during the incident. The protest was marked by vandalism scrawled on the library walls and the defacing of university property. Students who were simply studying for exams reported they felt trapped and unsafe inside the building, showcasing that their takeover was far from a peaceful demonstration. The violent rhetoric and aggressive tactics used made it evident that this was not a call for thoughtful dialogue, but rather an attempt to expose an extreme political agenda through coercion. 

The demonstrators' praise for Hamas — a globally recognized terrorist organization responsible for numerous attacks on civilians — is greatly troubling. Equating Hamas with a liberation movement is bullshit. Not only does it misinterpret the organization's violent agenda to abolish the state of Israel, but also undermines the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians for self-determination and peace.  Finally, Columbia’s administration is taking a firm stance, although long overdue. Columbia University suspended over 65 students and banned 33 others from campus.

The protest was condemned by the university as a violation of academic integrity and public safety. Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, labeled the protestors as “pro-Hamas thugs” and announced a review of their visa status. Columbia’s decisive response marked that there is a clear line between free speech and actions that undermine the values of coexistence and peace.  The actions at Columbia University reveal the importance of distinguishing between legitimate peaceful advocacy and the dangerous support for Islamist fundamentalism.