Columbia students file civil rights complaint against school amid protests. Here are the accusations.
NEW YORK -- A group of Columbia University students on Thursday filed a federal civil rights complaint against the school, accusing the university of discriminating against Palestinian students and pro-Palestinian protesters.
The organization Palestine Legal says they are representing four students and the student group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine in the complaint filed with the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
According to Palestine Legal, the complaint alleges the students and the student group have been victims of anti-Palestinian discrimination and harassment by Columbia University students, professors and administrators.
The complaint cites the university bringing in NYPD officers to arrest over 100 protesters last week as part of the school's discriminatory treatment, and says "the university has failed to respond promptly and effectively to notice of a hostile environment," including doxing.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of Education says his office is investigating reports of antisemitism at campuses across the country.
Deadline approaches for Columbia students to clear campus encampment
A midnight deadline has come and gone for student protesters to reach an agreement with the school's administration and clear their pro-Palestinian encampment.
School officials have been negotiating with the demonstrators, who insist they will stay in the unsanctioned tent city until the university agrees to their demands of financial divestment from companies that do business with Israel.
"This is the story of thousands of students who don't want their tuition dollars to aid in the collective punishment and mass murder of Palestinians," student protester Khymani James said. "We condemn those who attempt to undermine our values and dismantle our movement for a free Palestine."
University President Dr. Minouche Shafik said if her administration couldn't reach an agreement with protesters by Friday morning, she would consider alternative options for clearing the encampment.
But late Thursday night, the school said, "The talks have shown progress and are continuing as planned. ... We have our demands; they have theirs. A formal process is underway and continues. There is a rumor that the NYPD has been invited to campus this evening. This rumor is false."
Still, there were two police buses parked nearby and there was "a noticeable presence of private security and police at entrances to the campus," according to The Associated Press.
And shortly after midnight, about three dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators gave out signs and started chanting outside the locked school gates, the AP reported, adding that those protesters "marched away as at least 40 police officers assembled nearby."
Columbia University student protests continue for 9th straight day
On one side of Columbia University's lawn, student protesters remain defiant in a tent encampment, while on the other side, Israeli flags are now planted.
Meanwhile, preparations are slowly underway for graduation.
"I don't even know if there's even gonna be a graduation. That's part of the problem," one student said.
The nine consecutive days of campus demonstrations have forced some courses to go remote in the final week of classes. Now, the administration will also allow students to take final exams virtually if they request it.
"For the past two weeks, there's literally been anarchy on campus, which is proven by the fact that we have to go on Zoom," student Andrew Stein said.
After House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that he believes the National Guard should be called in if the encampment isn't cleared soon, Mayor Eric Adams strongly disagreed on CBS News New York on Thursday morning.
"We're controlling this in the New York City Police Department. No one does it better, we do not need the National Guard," Adams said.
The mayor added, "We must stay focused on ensuring that people can have their constitutional right to protest without harming innocent people."
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to call in the National Guard, said earlier this week she does not think its necessary to deploy them.
A heavy NYPD presence around the perimeter of the school remains, although protests have been quieter over the past two days or so and satellite protests outside the campus have gotten smaller, CBS New York's Ali Bauman reports.
Pro-Israel students say protests make them feel unsafe on Columbia University campus
Pro-Israel students say pro-Palestinian demonstrators have shouted threatening and antisemitic chants, and they fear for their safety.
"I left campus 'cause I didn't feel safe and it was also the holiday of Passover," Stein said.
"I haven't been able to study for a week and a half, so now at this point, I said, I'm trying to tune it out, just stay in my dorm and just grind because I have two weeks to catch up on," student Jonathan Lederer said.
Stein and Lederer just returned to school after they say they say they were assaulted during a protest on campus over the weekend.
"Someone threw a rock at my head, so I was physically assaulted on campus and NYPD couldn't come on campus. Public Safety was nowhere to be seen," Lederer said.
Hundreds of people attended a pro-Israel rally outside campus along Broadway on Thursday evening.
"My heart is with every single Jew who is being subjected to this virulent antisemitism that is not being stopped," Upper West Side resident Naomi Weiss said.
"We've seen particularly what happened here in Columbia -- the calls for Hamas, the celebration of Hamas. It was a wake-up call," said Luke Moon, executive director of the Philos Project.
"We're here to remind the world that there are 133 hostages still held, we hope, alive in Gaza," Bronx resident Danny Chamides said.
"Every decent human, Judeo-Christian, western civilization-loving person should be standing up for Israel," actress Patricia Heaton said.
Those protesters at one point crossed paths with pro-Palestinian protesters, who held a demonstration shortly after the pro-Israel rally. At least one person was taken into custody.
Rep. Ilhan Omar visits Columbia University student protesters
Rep. Ilhan Omar visited the pro-Palestinian protesters on Columbia University's campus Thursday.
In a post on X, she wrote, "I had the honor of seeing the Columbia University anti-war encampment firsthand. Contrary to right-wing attacks, these students are joyfully protesting for peace and an end to the genocide taking place in Gaza. I'm in awe of their bravery and courage."
Omar's daughter, Isra Hirsi, said she was suspended from Barnard College after attending a pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University last week.
Protests on college campuses across New York, New Jersey
A pro-Palestinian encampment went up Thursday at the City College of New York in Harlem. College officials say they're working to determine whether the protesters are affiliate with the CUNY system.
City College adds it is committed to the principles of free speech, but that any protest must remain peaceful, non-threatening and devoid of hatred.
Students at Princeton University in New Jersey started a pro-Palestinian protest Thursday morning. They set up an encampment, although they are not allowed to set up tents. The school says it's strictly enforcing its rules while allowing free expression of speech.
