# 2025-01-21 Modern Zionism Class Disruption

![](https://outline-production-attachments.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/uploads/20ead410-c42b-4714-8dce-5f2245595c20/44b3ba62-b579-47a9-aafd-f51f70e51db9/1000201938.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA4EOUDTOVUICLPZ4P%2F20261029%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20261029T173000Z&X-Amz-Expires=86400&X-Amz-Signature=f60b6a582643564df5ed4fa982a7ae8a08c34a2fe8914115e19e6a5f58055ed2&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject "right-50 =400x584")

# Metadata

* **When:** 2025-01-21
* **Where:** Columbia University
* **Who:** 
* **Organizations:**  [CUAD](/doc/98286234-14cd-4ca1-823e-e709f2f7f040)
* **Tags:** [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 

# Description


:::info
**Additional evidence:** [folder](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dxMqRZXEgK7GAysHBMnhPgfTLzEHs-aC?usp=drive_link)

:::

[Jessica Costescu and Jessica Schwalb for The Washington Free Beacon:](https://freebeacon.com/campus/mayhem-at-columbia-pro-hamas-students-storm-classroom-target-jewish-students-with-anti-semitic-flyers-on-first-day-of-spring-semester/)

Four student activists, donning keffiyehs, marched into the class, "History of Modern Israel," filming themselves as they recited a script, passed out propaganda, and harassed students, most of whom are Jewish, according to a student in the class.

"THE ENEMY WILL NOT SEE TOMORROW," [read](https://x.com/LishiBaker/status/1881785486211223916) one flyer, which used an upside-down triangle symbol that Hamas uses to denote Israeli targets to spell "TOMORROW." The flyer depicts a truck full of Hamas terrorists brandishing heavy artillery, including two RPGs and machine guns.

Another flyer, with the caption "CRUSH ZIONISM," depicted the Star of David underneath a boot. A third depicted an Israeli flag in flames with the threat to "BURN ZIONISM TO THE GROUND."

[Video](https://x.com/LishiBaker/status/1881770163680457142) of the incident shows Avi Shilon, a visiting professor from Israel affiliated with Columbia’s Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, asking the protesters to leave: "We want to study," he said. Enrolled students can also be seen handing back the flyers, asking them to "get out." One told the intruders, "This is a civil rights violation. We’re trying to learn."

One anti-Israel protester read from a script: "We are going to give you an inside scoop into Columbia University’s normalization of genocide."

* [Video 1 of the Incident](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uJ_viv9b1HbTc26V29y2SnOyV93iY-8l/view?usp=drivesdk) 
* [Video 2 of the incident](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uBni6-cRN37vnWIdRTd-vcayqFGtsmn-/view?usp=drivesdk) 
* [Video 3 of the incident](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oNNXNX0le0H-h7PwlLQY8adIbbE0U3b-/view?usp=drive_link)
* Fliers: [crush Zionism](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vGxth5LFgqw45UivmE0liC5QABmTzmYs/view?usp=drivesdk), [burn Zionism](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v9QWFMejVD_WEcKT65I87mccOd7r_3h2/view?usp=drivesdk), [different head](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v0_qkjHtNlJ1eTXF1h5wt0uWqzsJnx2T/view?usp=drivesdk), [enemy not see tomorrow](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vELE0cVBgdNrv-JRL5QjLTT9W8-4GcxL/view?usp=drivesdk),  
* [Statement From Interim President Katrina Armstrong on Class Disruption](https://communications.news.columbia.edu/news/statement-interim-president-katrina-armstrong-class-disruption) January 21, 2025
* [Update on University Actions Taken After Class Disruption](https://communications.news.columbia.edu/news/update-university-actions-taken-after-class-disruption) January 22, 2025
* [Update on University Action Taken After Class Disruption January 23](https://communications.news.columbia.edu/news/update-university-actions-classroom-disruption), 2025

## Update February 23, 2025

Barnard expels two students involved in the incident. This is the first expulsion at Columbia.

See the related incident: [2025-02-25 Barnard Expulsion Picket](/doc/c9366e05-214a-4694-996b-61acb43ce544)

##  ![](https://outline-production-attachments.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/uploads/575efb0c-1e30-45db-b105-3e18ce1e46d2/8f0cc869-4316-4d89-8ca0-7da3662fdc14/cuapartheiddivest%20174033054813_481332882_17899497075113732_5979496318823585181_n.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA4EOUDTOVUICLPZ4P%2F20261029%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20261029T173000Z&X-Amz-Expires=86400&X-Amz-Signature=f212ff3870fd428b20c817fd9cbbe20f1dc048ad2d57e4d1a9b947ec59036552&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject "right-50 =400x500")Social Media

* On January 21, 2025 [CUAD](/doc/98286234-14cd-4ca1-823e-e709f2f7f040)  [posted](https://x.com/ColumbiaBDS/status/1881909933463232828) on X about the disruption (saved [screenshot1](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uNp6DWvVRa9YzTrGMhiIvAwp7kxDnnce/view?usp=drivesdk),  [screenshot2](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uuWj8lbhoCLL1gWaRMnA7MtMJTEdIvxS/view?usp=drivesdk),  [screenshot3](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uZTbWBRC3kscZSguqAKq8FReag5g_9c_/view?usp=drivesdk))
* On February 23, 2025 CUAD posted [this](https://www.instagram.com/p/DGbAlcjpCyF/) on Instagram ([saved post media](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nQPJF8qV6xd8G9FjlxLTgYuo69QT4twN?usp=drive_link)).

## Media and Press

### Video

*  [Anti-Israel protesters interrupting college class a ‘flagrant violation of student civil rights,’ says Columbia University student](https://www.foxnews.com/video/6367517060112), Fox News, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [Protesters disrupt class on Israel at Columbia University](https://www.foxnews.com/video/6367523657112), Fox News, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [Protesters disrupt Israeli history class at Columbia University](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/protesters-disrupt-israeli-history-class-at-columbia-university/6118167/), NBC, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 

### Print

* [Columbia University course on Israel disrupted by Palestinian protesters on first day of class](https://jewishinsider.com/2025/01/columbia-university-course-on-israel-disrupted-by-palestinian-protesters-on-first-day-of-class/) by Haley Cohen, Jewish Insider, January 21, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [Mayhem at Columbia: Pro-Hamas Students Storm Classroom, Target Jewish Students With Anti-Semitic Flyers on First Day of Spring Semester](https://freebeacon.com/campus/mayhem-at-columbia-pro-hamas-students-storm-classroom-target-jewish-students-with-anti-semitic-flyers-on-first-day-of-spring-semester/) by Jessica Costescu and Jessica Schwalb, The Washington Free Beacon, January 21, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9)
* [Columbia anti-Israel activists start semester with protest, disrupt Israeli prof’s class](https://www.timesofisrael.com/columbia-anti-israel-activists-start-semester-with-protest-class-disruption/) by Luke Tress, The Times of Israel, January 21, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [Columbia Posts Security Guards Outside Jewish and Israel-Related Courses](https://freebeacon.com/campus/columbia-posts-security-guards-outside-jewish-and-israel-related-courses/) by Jessica Costescu, The Washington Free Beacon, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* ['Then masked men walked into my class at Columbia University'](https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sykduprd1x) by Avi Shilon, YNetNews.com, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9)
* [Columbia University professor shares how protesters 'conquered' class and distributed antisemitic propaganda](https://www.foxnews.com/media/columbia-university-professor-shares-how-protesters-conquered-class-distributed-antisemitic-propaganda) by David Spector, Fox News, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [Masked students disrupt Columbia classes, distribute antisemitic leaflets as college named ‘national model’ for anti-Israel protest](https://nypost.com/2025/01/22/us-news/masked-students-disrupt-columbia-classes-distribute-antisemitic-leaflets/) by Isabel Vincent and Rikki Schlott, The New York Post, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [‘Columbia Is Out of Control’: Student Activists Kick Off Spring Semester by Staging Pro-Terror Protest, Disrupting Jewish Studies Class](https://archive.ph/w1wlF) by Novi Zhukovsky, The New York Sun, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [Anti-Israel activists disrupt Israeli history class at Columbia University](https://www.jns.org/anti-israel-activists-disrupt-israeli-history-class-at-columbia-university/) by Vita Fellig, JNS, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [‘Crush Zionism’: Masked Anti-Israel Agitators Disrupt Israeli History Course at Columbia University](https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/01/22/crush-zionism-masked-anti-israel-agitators-disrupt-israeli-history-course-columbia-university/) by Jack Elbaum, The Algemeiner, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [Letter to the Editor: Faculty denounce class disruption and hate speech at recent protest](https://www.columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2025/01/22/letter-to-the-editor-faculty-denounce-class-disruption-and-hate-speech-at-recent-protest/) by [Debbie Becher](/doc/bf8133cb-a0c7-4cb6-90b8-df33c60a57bb) , Claudia Breger, Nina Berman, Elisabeth Bernstein, Taylor Carman, [Amy Chazkel](/doc/386a0500-ecad-415b-b29a-90888acf755e) , [Yinon Cohen](/doc/3f8d881e-6b83-4219-9470-c5eb19bd0dd8), Jeffrey Fagan, Lydia Goehr, Nora Gross, [Jack Halberstam](/doc/6f08cd50-cc75-4bfb-8c29-d74344703d1a) , [Sarah Haley](/doc/c589a150-af34-4d26-9077-ee2e4063e4fb) , [Michael Harris](/doc/0ac32a7d-33de-427a-a2c7-437070cf7ff7) , [Marianne Hirsch](/doc/a070c869-b208-4651-9e47-c75797f04108) , [Gil Hochberg](/doc/c834b0bc-2780-48c6-af51-b616c6be6f0e) , [Jean Howard](/doc/8702edf1-aed2-4e05-b6cc-001304882ad7) , [Joseph Howley](/doc/48c31c99-60f2-403e-955a-9bd41475d2ca) , [Rebecca Jordan-Young](/doc/b280431b-ad13-43d1-b045-6095266ebcc4) , [David Lurie](/doc/aabbab1e-34fe-405d-b5ff-68f2fa5ef870) , [Daniel Malinsky](/doc/e13608fa-e4ee-45a1-aac5-a9920649df1d) , [Reinhold Martin](/doc/681af20b-015a-4f8a-a524-320bb2b5d439) , Tey Meadow, Nara Milanich, [Manijeh Moradian](/doc/8735bc29-9ff2-49c6-b7d4-2bad89801b2a) , Fred Neuhouser, Robert Newton, [James Piacentini](/doc/ee03051f-6eb4-466a-860e-ee8d9bf2671f) , [Bruce Robbins](/doc/7b5935b9-562e-4b67-b025-94f404ed3625) , Emmanuelle M Saada, [James Schamus](/doc/962819ce-9eee-4f60-a258-cfcdaed62700) , and Alisa Solomon, Columbia Spectator, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [University condemns disruption of History of Modern Israel class](https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/01/22/university-condemns-disruption-of-history-of-modern-israel-class/) by Daksha Pillai and Grace Hamilton, Columbia Spectator, January 22, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [Columbia University Says It Suspended Pro-Hamas Agitator Who Stormed Classroom](https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/01/23/columbia-university-says-it-suspended-pro-hamas-agitator-who-stormed-classroom/) by Dion J. Pierre, The Algemeiner, January 23, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [Columbia University suspends one student as it expedites investigation into Israeli history class disruption](https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/23/us/columbia-university-investigation-israel-class-disruption/index.html) by Jeff Winter, CNN, January 24, 2025
* [Columbia identifies two more individuals involved with disruption of History of Modern Israel class](https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/01/27/columbia-identifies-two-more-individuals-involved-with-disruption-of-history-of-modern-israel-class/) by Isha Banerjee, Columbia Spectator, January 27, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [Columbia University Bans Pro-Hamas Classroom Agitators From Campus](https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/01/28/columbia-university-bans-pro-hamas-classroom-agitators-campus/) by Dion J. Pierre, The Algemeiner, January 28, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* [Barnard College expels students involved in anti-Israel class disruption](https://jewishinsider.com/2025/02/barnard-college-expels-students-involved-in-anti-israel-class-disruption/) by Haley Cohen, Jewish Insider, February 23, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 
* Press Release: [Barnard College expels two students for pro-Palestinian activism under pressure from billionaire donors](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ujr5mHU14oYpB23ntcE0ojka9-3LSk8RMjjUw9skItk) by [CUAD](/doc/98286234-14cd-4ca1-823e-e709f2f7f040), February 23, 2025 [tagDisruption](/doc/6c5ce144-58a0-41f5-b9de-81e5bfe4b8d9) 

# Related Incidents

* [2025-02-25 Barnard Expulsion Picket](/doc/c9366e05-214a-4694-996b-61acb43ce544)

# Footer

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