Anti-Israel Activists at Columbia University Protest at Tree Lighting Ceremony
These folks sure know how to spread holiday cheer, don’t they?
The Columbia Spectator reports:
‘Distraction by design’: Columbia University Apartheid Divest holds protest at Tree Lighting ceremonyColumbia University Apartheid Divest protested the annual Tree Lighting ceremony for the second year in a row on Thursday night, calling the event a “distraction by design” from the University.After the tree lights were turned on along College Walk at 6:15 p.m., dozens of protesters began marching from the east side of College Walk near the 116th Street and Amsterdam Avenue gates, holding up a large banner reading “Distraction by design, turn your eyes to Palestine.”“TREE LIGHTING is one of Columbia’s LARGEST EVENTS of the year, a distraction disguised as a community event (they’ll still market it this way as they lock Harlem residents out of a public campus and shut off acres of land in the middle of Harlem),” a CUAD Instagram post read.Protesters chanted “We will be victorious, resistance is glorious” as they moved down College Walk and congregated around the Sundial.At last year’s Tree Lighting ceremony, protesters held a large banner reading “Joy is canceled” on Low Steps behind the student performances taking place on the stage. After the trees were lit, students also marched down College Walk.“The annual tree lighting celebration, which is a student led event, was festive and well-attended,” University spokesperson Samantha Slater wrote in a statement to Spectator. “During the celebration, public safety and campus delegates were in place to monitor and manage for potential disruptions to campus activities. As always, our focus is on preserving and enabling our mission to teach, create and advance knowledge.”
Featured image via Twitter video.
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