Tensions flared at Columbia University on the morning of May 21st as the university held its general commencement ceremony. Outside the campus, pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli demonstrators gathered in protest, leading to a significant police presence and at least two arrests. The demonstrations are the latest in a series of protests that have rocked Columbia since last spring, when the university became a focal point for nationwide campus activism related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
This week, Columbia began its series of commencement ceremonies, with individual departments celebrating on separate days. The general commencement ceremony, held on the 21st, drew approximately 37,000 attendees and proceeded mostly without incident inside the campus. However, Interim President Claire Schiffman’s speech was repeatedly interrupted by graduating students, many of whom chanted “Free Mahmoud Khalil,” a call in support of a Palestinian student activist and Columbia graduate. Schiffman acknowledged the outcry, referring to the university’s commitment to free speech, but her remarks were met with boos and further expressions of dissatisfaction over the university’s handling of protests and cooperation with federal authorities.
Outside the university gates, dozens of demonstrators staged a vocal protest. Some participants burned or tore up their diplomas, chanted slogans such as “Columbia is a liar, they burned Palestine,” and carried signs condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza. Many wore masks, and tensions escalated to the point where at least two individuals were arrested following confrontations with NYPD officers deployed to control the crowd.
The protests were largely centred around Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who had played a prominent role in previous pro-Palestine demonstrations at Columbia. In March, Khalil was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is currently facing deportation. The Trump administration has linked Khalil’s activism to Hamas and is seeking his removal despite his status as a permanent resident. Civil rights organizations, faculty, and student groups have strongly condemned the move, labelling it an attempt to suppress free speech and political dissent.
Protests also disrupted the commencement ceremony held on May 20th, where graduates booed another university official and again called for Khalil’s release. In response to federal pressure and criticism over its handling of campus protests and allegations of anti-Semitism, Columbia has promised to implement new policies. These include increased campus security, a ban on mask-wearing during demonstrations, and the hiring of agents tasked with forcibly removing protesters. The federal government has threatened to withhold $400 million in funding from Columbia if it fails to comply with demands related to campus safety and anti-Semitism concerns.