A lead student negotiator for protesters at Columbia University has stated that protests will persist on the campus despite the university's request for a police presence. The university has sought the NYPD's presence on campus until May 17. The negotiator, Mahmoud Khalil, expressed confidence that students will continue the movement despite facing what he described as brutality against them. Khalil emphasized that students retain the right to protest even with heightened security measures in place.
During negotiations between student protesters and the Columbia University administration over the past two weeks, Khalil noted that the university did not perceive the protests as part of an anti-war movement. Instead, the administration viewed the situation as an internal student discipline matter. Khalil highlighted that the protesters are advocating for Columbia University to divest its investments from companies contributing to the conflict in Gaza.
Tensions escalated on campus when officers entered Columbia's Hamilton Hall, which had been occupied by protesters since early Tuesday morning. Numerous individuals were observed being arrested during the incident. Khalil explained that an autonomous group decided to occupy the building due to their perception that the university was not addressing their demands and was, in their view, alienating them.
