On the first day of the spring semester at Columbia University, a History of Modern Israel class was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters who distributed flyers containing antisemitic imagery. Videos circulating online show a group of masked individuals, some wearing keffiyehs, entering the classroom and disseminating flyers depicting a Star of David being crushed under a boot, a burning Israeli flag, and armed militants. The flyers also included messages such as "the enemy will not see tomorrow," "Burn Zionism to the ground," and "Crush Zionism."
The incident sparked immediate reactions. Lishi Baker, a student in the class, expressed his dismay on social media, questioning the state of academic freedom at the university. Visiting professor Avi Shilon, who was teaching the course, requested the protesters to leave, while other students handed back the flyers, asserting their right to learn without disruption. One protester read a prepared statement accusing Columbia University of normalizing genocide.
Baker, a Middle Eastern History student, expressed his frustration to The Washington Free Beacon, highlighting the financial burden of tuition and the desire for an uninterrupted learning environment. Professor Shilon acknowledged the challenging situation, balancing his responsibility to protect his students with the need to avoid escalating the situation. He emphasized the importance of teaching Israeli history from a historian's perspective, offering different narratives of the conflict.
Columbia's interim president, Katrina Armstrong, condemned the disruption and the violent imagery in the flyers. She reiterated the university's commitment to academic freedom and stated that disrupting classes violates university conduct rules. Armstrong emphasized that acts of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination will not be tolerated. The incident occurred amidst broader pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus, with groups like Columbia University Apartheid Divest and Students for Justice in Palestine protesting in support of Palestinian liberation. Reports indicate that phrases like "Gaza Rises Columbia Falls" were spray-painted around campus.
