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Columbia University Suspends Dozens After Gaza Protest—Innocent Bystanders Caught Up

Gaza City, Gaza Strip

May 12, 2025 (Updated: February 03, 2026) 1 Negative General

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TheWkly Analysis

More than 65 Columbia University students—some merely studying, others covering the scene—have been suspended following a pro-Palestinian protest that occupied a library reading room. Activists demanded an academic boycott over Gaza. Administrators called NYPD to clear trespassers, resulting in dozens of arrests. But the university escalated, imposing immediate suspensions on everyone present, including students who say they weren’t protesting. After backlash, Columbia reinstated some bystanders, but many protest participants remain barred from campus mid-semester. Civil liberties groups condemn the move as “collective punishment,” warning it chills free speech on campus. The administration insists the protest disrupted academic operations, citing safety and property concerns. With final exams looming, tensions are high, fueling debate over balancing protest rights and institutional rules.

What this means for you:

•	If you’re on a campus, note that participating—or even being near—a protest could have severe consequences; clarify your involvement early.
•	Students who genuinely weren’t protesting may appeal by showing evidence (coursework, witness statements).
•	Review your school’s protest policies—some institutions enforce “no tolerance” in occupied academic spaces.
•	In the meantime, if you plan to demonstrate, coordinate with recognized student organizations and confirm local legal guidelines to avoid blanket suspensions.

Key Entities

• Columbia University: Elite institution in NYC, faced with campus unrest over its response to the Gaza conflict.
• Pro-Palestinian Activists: Occupied the library to demand academic boycott and solidarity statements.
• NYPD: Called to remove protesters, resulting in arrests and subsequent university-led discipline.
• Civil Liberties Groups (like FIRE): Decry the broad suspensions, citing free speech and due-process concerns.

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