By h. nazan ışık —
23 April 2024—
Today is 23 April 2024, which marks the seventh day of Columbia’s ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’.
According to Columbia Daily Spectator, the student newspaper of Columbia University, it started on Wednesday, 17 April when University President Minouche Shafik testified before Congress on Columbia’s handling of antisemitism on campus. The pro-Palestinian protesters set up tents calling for Columbia’s divestment from companies that do business with Israel, and be more transparent about where it invests funds. Three protesters were arrested on 116 Street and Broadway for demonstrating.
On Thursday, 18 April President Shafik authorized the NYPD to come to campus and close the encampment. 108 pro-Palestine protesters were arrested. Immediately after the arrests, while NYPD and University officers cleared the remaining items in the first encampment, students launched a second ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ said Columbia Daily Spectator,
Today is 23 April 2024, which marks the seventh day of Columbia’s ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’, and my first visit.
Barricattes, “police lane don’t cross” yellow tapes and police at the doors were the first things I saw.
The 116 Street and Broadway gate was locked.
Columbia University Public Safety officers at the 117 Street and Broadway gate, open for Columbia University ID (CUID) card holders, were checking the IDs.
For press members there was another entrance open between 14:00-16:00 (2pm-4pm). At 15:00 (3pm) I was in.
Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
“Gaza Solidarity Encampment” banner welcomes you.
“Divest now!”sign: A call for Columbia’s divestment from companies that do business with Israel.
Inside of ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’.
Even though no press was allowed into the encampment, pro-Palestinian protesters let me in, with one condition : NO FACES!
The encampment was very organized and very quiet.
Messages were on the tents, no sound was needed.
“Intifada” is an Arabic word for a rebellion or uprising, or a resistance movement. It can be used to refer to an uprising against oppression.(Wikipedia).
CU Alumni for Palestine,
Dykes 4 (for) DIVESTMENT!
From PALESTINE to the PHILIPPINES STOP the US WAR MACHINE
A Chemical engineer student’s sign: Chemical Engineers against Chemical WARFARE
Most of the students were on their computers, studying.
The encampment had daily programs, such as Palestinian poetry reading, history, storytelling, prayer and guest speakers.
And on Tuesday, one of the guest speakers was author Marc Lamont Hill, speaking at the encampment.
Some protesters were taking pictures of him and some recording.
One pro-Israel protester, carrying pictures of Israeli hostages, was there, talking to people.
At about 19:00 (7pm) some protesters joined the encampment.
Later the encampment became quiet again. Some students were back to their computers again, to study.
A student in a cafe was on the computer. “I have an exam coming, I need to study,” he said.
It was a full moon today. Everything looked so bright and colourful.
The full moon over the encampment made everything look brighter.
A tent with a big Palestinian flag during the full moon.
All day I was inside the encampment. Outside there were banners, signs read what the ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ was for.
Israeli and US flags and a sign reads “Bring Them Home Now” alongside portraits of Israelis taken hostage by Hamas in front of the pro-Palestinian encampment.
In the evening, President Shafik sent an email with a midnight deadline for clearing the encampment.
Hundreds of students with hundreds of supporters gathered outside the gates at night,
All Pictures © h. nazan ışık
© h. nazan ışık / NKENdiKEN