Metadata

• When: 2023-12-11

• Where: Columbia University

• Who:

• Organizations: SWC, ColumbiaSJP, ColumbiaJVP

• Tags:

Description

• Pro-Palestine Rally organized by Student Workers of Columbia and UAW Local 2710. See photo.

• Rally hosted by SJP and JVP during their suspensions and promoted on Instagram. See photo1 and photo2. 

• Organizers led protesters in “Intifada, Intifada” chants.  See video. 

• Organizers led protesters in “From the River to the Sea” chants.  See video1 and video2.

• Protester, identified as Lizzy George-Griffin from the LionLez incident, saying “Free Palestine, bitch.” See video. 

• Protester carrying sign “Resist Colonial Power By Any Means Necessary.” See photo. 

• Protest occurred during reading week. Students studying for finals in Milstein were disturbed and distracted.  See video.

• Barnard Dean, Leslie Grinage, was present at the rally and spoke to Jewish students who expressed that they were scared to walk back to their dorms.  See video and photo. 

• This may have violated Columbia University’s Event Policy (Safe and Responsible Event), which states The University has an obligation to ensure that all members of our community can participate in their academic pursuits without fear for their safety. See policy.  

• On 12/27/23, jvp.columbia posted on their instagram account and referred to this event as the “Barnard 4 Ceasefire protest that we co-organized with SJP,” in clear violation of the suspension of both student groups. 

• The event may have violated Barnard Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment and Related Procedures as it is harassment and created a hostile environment.  See policy. 

• This language may be considered Behavioral Violations (Harassment) of Columbia University’s Policy.  See policy.  

• This may have violated Columbia University’s Code of Conduct, which states “Refrain from behavior that intentionally or recklessly endangers, threatens, or causes physical or emotional harm to any person, or that intentionally or recklessly causes reasonable apprehension of such harm.” See policy. 

Media

• Suspended groups at Columbia University continue to hold anti-Israel events by Haley Cohen, Jewish Insider, December 12, 2023

• Barnard College’s Restrictions on Political Speech Prompt Outcry by Sharon Otterman, New York Times, January 24, 2024

• ‘The trust is absolutely broken’: Barnard initiates disciplinary processes against students after ‘unauthorized’ protest by Maya Stahl and Sarah Huddleston, Columbia Spectator, January 31, 2024 [1]

Notes

[1] Contains the admission that the protest was unauthorized.

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