Columbia University students and New York City activists recently organized a teach-in focusing on the First Intifada, the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation that began in 1987. The event, held off-campus at The People’s Forum, was spearheaded by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) and the Palestinian Youth Movement New York City. Organizers aimed to explore the methods and lessons of the uprising, promoting discussions on sustaining revolutionary movements.
The teach-in is the latest example of pro-Palestinian activism at Columbia, where antisemitic rhetoric has become an increasing concern. The university is already under federal investigation for allegations of antisemitic harassment tied to anti-Israel protests. Some Jewish students and faculty members have reported feeling unsafe as radical activists grow more emboldened. Despite this, a group of leftist faculty members defended the teach-in, dismissing concerns about antisemitism and claiming that criticisms are an attempt to silence pro-Palestinian voices.
This event follows a pattern of extremist activity on Columbia’s campus. In 2024, students set up a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” demanding that the university cut ties with Israel and companies that supply weapons to its military. The protest led to mass arrests, clashes with police, and administrative resignations, further highlighting the university’s inability to rein in radical activism. Columbia has also taken disciplinary action against students who disrupted classes to push their anti-Israel agenda, but such measures have done little to curb the movement.
As Columbia and other universities struggle to balance free speech with public safety, events like the First Intifada teach-in raise serious concerns. Allowing students to celebrate violent uprisings under the guise of “academic discourse” only fuels the spread of antisemitism and extremism on college campuses.
