Jewish student protesters at Columbia University defend their pro-Palestine demonstrations, emphasising a peaceful approach aimed at advocating for Palestinian rights, not promoting antisemitism.
Jewish student protesters at Columbia University have defended their pro-Palestine demonstrations against accusations of antisemitism, clarifying that their protests are peaceful and focused on advocating for Palestinian rights without promoting hatred towards Jewish individuals. This stance has been echoed by protesters involved, including Jewish students such as Jonathan Ben-Menachem and a student named Sarah. Despite criticisms from international figures like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US House Speaker Mike Johnson, these demonstrations are part of a wider student movement across the United States demanding universities to divest from companies associated with Israel due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The protests, which resemble the anti-war demonstrations of the 1960s, have been reported at various universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, and New York University. The student activists are specifically targeting investments in major corporations like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Lockheed Martin, citing their business ties with Israel.
The protest at Columbia University has brought about a significant reaction from university leadership, with fears of escalating tensions and potential National Guard intervention. This has led to criticisms from faculty such as Professor Nara Milanich, who argued that the actions of university leadership, rather than the students themselves, have exacerbated the situation.
These campus movements are part of the broader global call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel, drawing parallels to historical student-led divestment campaigns against apartheid in South Africa. Despite facing legal and administrative challenges, including legislation in states like Texas that prohibits such divestment actions, students remain committed to pushing their institutions toward what they see as ethical investment practices.