Columbia University calls on students to dismantle protest camp

In New York on Monday, the president of Columbia University announced the failure of two weeks of negotiations to end a long-running protest on the Ivy League campus.

Nemat Minush Shafik called on the protesting activists to voluntarily dismantle the camp and disperse. Otherwise, they may face suspension from classes. reports Reuters agency.

The tent camp was organized to protest against Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.

Shafik said the university will not stop supporting the Israeli side, as the protesters insist. At the same time, the university president proposed organizing support for healthcare and educational institutions in Gaza and making this support more transparent.

The protesters vowed to maintain their camp on the Manhattan campus until the university complies with their demands and declares an amnesty for those students and teachers who were punished for participating in the protests.

On Monday morning, the university administration sent a letter to protesters warning that failure to leave the camp and sign a form confirming their participation in the protest would lead to enforcement action. Violators face suspension and disciplinary action at the end of the semester.

The reason for the protests was the decision of President Shafik two weeks ago to call the New York police to dismantle the camp. One hundred people were arrested during the police operation, reports Reuters.