Columbia University masked agitators disrupt Jewish history class and spread antisemitic propaganda

A group of masked protestors disrupted a Jewish history class at New York's Columbia University on Tuesday, distributing leaflets depicting a boot crushing a Star of David and one vowing to "Burn Zionism to the Ground," the New York Post reported. The incident left students in a state of terror and comes shortly after the university was named as a "national model" for anti-Israel protests. This designation was derived from the university's infamous Gaza camp, which was used as a model for protests throughout the United States.

A video posted on social media showed a group of people barging into a History of Modern Israel class on campus, their identities hidden beneath keffiyehs. The group handed out antisemitic fliers to the class, while one protester delivered an unwanted speech stating Israel is a racist terrorist state.

Lishi Baker, a 22-year-old student who was in class during the incident, told The Post that the posters resembled "images we might see in 1930s Germany."

"This movement continues to reveal itself as pro-terror," he continued. "They spit in the face of liberal values and create an intolerable hostile environment for Jewish students."

The university, which was heavily criticized for its infamous anti-Israel Gaza camp last year, condemned the disruption.

University President Katrina Armstrong addressed the incident in a letter, saying, "We strongly condemn this disruption, as well as the fliers that included violent imagery that is unacceptable on our campus. Disrupting academic activities constitutes a violation of the Rules of university conduct...We will move quickly to investigate and address this act. Any act of antisemitism, or other form of discrimination, harassment, or intimidation against members of our community will not be tolerated."

Additionally, on Tuesday, protesters distributed antisemitic propaganda throughout other areas of Columbia while chanting and banging drums. This is despite a ceasefire agreement in the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a social media post, the groups Within Our Lifetime and Columbia University Apartheid Divest declared their intention to persist with their protests in 2025, urging individuals to attend their rally with the message: "We will not stop."

In April 2024, Columbia University faced global backlash for its weekslong anti-Israel Gaza camp, a controversial occupation that received support from students, faculty, and non-affiliated university individuals despite its pro-terror messaging.