History Repeats on College Campuses

56 years later to the day, Columbia University repeats violence of a dark past

On April 30, 1968, the Columbia University newspaper called the Columbia Daily Spectator ran this front page: “University Calls in 1,000 Police to End Demonstration As Nearly 700 Are Arrested and 100 Injured; Violent Solution Follows Failure of Negotiations.”

Columbia students protested the Vietnam War, and after a week long standoff, Columbia ordered NYPD to storm the protest and arrest students. The results were devastating with more than 100 injuries, and the incident has remained as a shameful stain on Columbia’s legacy. Yet, as fate would have it, tonight, April 30, 2024, this is the scene at Columbia University.

As if 1968 never happened, tonight in 2024 Columbia University is deploying the NYPD against students protesting the war in Gaza, which has to date killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, at least 70% of whom are women and children.

But perhaps most remarkably is this third excerpt—it is from Columbia’s website as of the publication of this post. On Columbia’s website, the University recalls and laments the 1968 violence against students and declares without a hint of self awareness, “Columbia is a far different place today than it was in the spring of 1968.”

Indeed it seems despite the benefit of 56 years of hindsight, Columbia is not so different after all. Adding to the irony of this blurb on Columbia’s website is the red bar at the top which declares, “Effectively immediately, access to the Morningside campus has been limited,” in response to the 2024 protests. Exactly 56 years later Columbia University is repeating the exact mistake it laments. But perhaps this mistake is even more dangerous this time around, because Columbia’s leadership believes [incorrectly to be sure] it has reformed and moved past engaging in violent reactions to students peacefully protesting war and genocide. Columbia’s actions clearly prove themselves wrong.

Now, more than ever, it is critical we stand in solidarity with students, professors, Jews, Muslims, Israelis, Palestinians, and people of every faith and no faith committed to the cause of justice, peace, and humanity. We demand an end to the siege on Gaza, an immediate release of all hostages in Palestine and Israel, an end to the military occupation and illegal settlements in Palestine, and all necessary resources to build Palestine up as a sovereign and independent state with the right to self-determination. None of these demands are illogical, unwarranted, or unjust. Each of them call to uphold basic human rights. Students recognize this and are putting their entire futures on the line to stand for these human rights.

Now 56 years later, what will it take for Columbia’s leadership to finally understand?