Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has spoken out against the pro-Palestinian campus protests at Columbia University, accusing them of being influenced by external funding and groups. Clinton, who co-teaches a course at Columbia, observed tensions rise following recent events in the Middle East.
Clinton highlighted the presence of pre-existing groups with organized protest plans that were not solely student-led. She pointed to outside funding and direction as factors contributing to the escalation of demonstrations on campus.
Clinton attributed the inflammatory nature of the protests to biased social media algorithms and external influences, which she believes presented a one-sided, pro-Hamas perspective of the conflict. She expressed concern that many protesters lacked a comprehensive understanding of the historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Despite her willingness to engage in dialogue, Clinton noted challenges in conversing with individuals who held strong opinions without factual basis. She described encounters with students characterized by slogans, attacks, and inflammatory language.
During the previous academic year, Columbia University emerged as a focal point for pro-Palestinian student activism, sparking demonstrations that reverberated across various campuses. While most protests remained peaceful, some incidents escalated into violence, disrupting academic activities.
The primary demands of the demonstrators included calls for divestment from companies supporting Israel and the Gaza conflict, as well as raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Reports surfaced of Jewish and Muslim students feeling intimidated, harassed, or physically assaulted amidst the heightened tensions.
