'Close down the school': Outrage as Columbia University faculty members stage walkout in solidarity with pro-Palestinian protesters

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Dozens of faculty members from Columbia University and Barnard College stood in solidarity with students protesting the Israel-Hamas conflict on Monday, April 22. 

The faculty's actions added fuel to an already tense situation, as the student demonstrations and the university's perceived inaction have received widespread condemnation, as per The Hill.

Columbia University faculty members chant alongside student protesters

For days students have occupied Columbia's campus, protesting the Biden administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, calling for a ceasefire, and for Congress to halt delivering military aid to Israel.

Over 100 protesters were arrested on Friday under the direction of university officials but demonstrations have only grown since then, spreading to college campuses nationwide. The student protesters also faced suspension from the university. 

Video footage from Monday's demonstration depicted a significant gathering of faculty members participating in chants and interacting with students in support of the protest after the arrest. 

Columbia University President Neemat Shafik faces calls to resign over protests

10 House Republicans from New York have called for the resignation of Neemat Shafik, who has been the president of Columbia University since July 2023. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa) is also pressing on Shafik to either take decisive action or step down from her position.

During a press conference on Monday, a group of Jewish Democrats condemned the protests and the university's leadership, denouncing the demonstration as antisemitic.

The Biden administration and New York City Mayor Eric Adams also criticized the protests, saying they were "blatantly antisemitic" and encouraged "calls for violence."

A considerable number of protesting students are thought to be Jewish, and protest groups have fought back against accusations that their actions are antisemitic.

There has been no report of violence during the protests.

Internet slams Columbia University as its faculty gets involved in pro-Palestinian protests

One remarked, "Lock the doors behind them," while another exclaimed, "Shut @Columbia down! Make these ppl unemployable."

A person noted, "To understand the #Jewhatred festering @Columbia one needs to look no further than the faculty and administration who have supported this toxic environment for years. It’s a masks off moment and Jewish people need to respond accordingly."

"Anyone still not understanding that these 'elite' colleges are nothing more than indoctrination sleepover camps. And then these mentally weak students graduate, can’t hold down a job and Ee the People must pay back their student loans," emphasized someone else. 

An individual declared, "The entire staff needs fired and the school shut down. Period," while one more added, "How to deliberately destroy an Ivy League university in the US." 

"Let's close down all these useless universities," stated a netizen, and another person echoed, "The faculty was always the problem. Close down the university."

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.