Columbia University Braces for Pro-Palestinian Protests

As Columbia University begins the new semester, the campus braces for renewed pro-Palestinian protests, following significant demonstrations last spring. Despite the university's efforts to address tensions through listening sessions and new protest guidelines, student organizers vow to escalate actions, demanding the university sever ties with companies linked to Israel. The recent resignation of President Minouche Shafik, who had previously called in police to manage protests, leaves the interim president, Katrina Armstrong, to navigate a challenging landscape of free expression versus campus safety. Meanwhile, at the University of Michigan, protests are also underway, with demonstrators advocating for divestment from Israel. Police have made arrests during recent demonstrations, emphasizing the university's commitment to enforcing protest policies while ensuring community safety. Both universities reflect a broader wave of pro-Palestinian activism across campuses in the wake of ongoing geopolitical tensions.