U.S. to probe Columbia protests for terrorism violations, official says

Record ID: 1983392

  • Title: U.S. to probe Columbia protests for terrorism violations, official says
  • Date: 14th March 2025
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - MAY 1, 2024) (REUTERS) PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS CHANTING, HOLDING SIGNS, AND MARCHING OUTSIDE THE GATES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, ON THE SIDE WHERE HAMILTON HALL IS POLICE OFFICERS / PROTESTERS PROTESTERS MARCHING AND HOLDING SIGNS NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - APRIL 30, 2024) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) PROTESTERS AND LARG
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  • Keywords: Columbia university hamas israel palestinians protest
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., & NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City: WASHINGTON, D.C., & NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: Fundamental Rights/Civil Liberties,North America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA002899714032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:The U.S. Justice Department said on Friday (March 14) it was looking into what it said were possible violations of terrorism laws during protests over the Gaza war at Columbia University, putting fresh pressure on the epicenter of last year's nationwide anti-Israel activism.
    Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the investigation was part of President Donald Trump's "mission to end antisemitism in this country," calling it a pushback that was "long overdue."
    Civil rights proponents criticized the move, saying that protesters were covered by the First Amendment of the Constitution, which protects rights including free speech.
    The announcement is the latest in a series of signals that the Trump administration has no intention of easing its crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activists and university policies that it says allow antisemitism to flourish on campus.
    The Trump administration has told Columbia that the school must make a series of policy changes as a precondition for beginning talks on restoring $400 million in federal funding suspended last week.
    The demands, spelled out in a letter dated Thursday (March 13), coincided with a search of two dormitory rooms by federal agents at Columbia's New York campus. The searches came a week after immigration agents detained Mahmoud Khalil, the leader of last year's protests at Columbia, in a bid to deport him that so far has been blocked in federal court.
    Earlier this week, the Department of Education warned that it was investigating 60 schools for allegedly tolerating a hostile environment for Jews. In a related move, it said on Friday it was looking into complaints that 45 universities engaged with a diversity program that set eligibility based on race. It said such activities violated a 1964 civil rights law.
    (Production: Eva Weininger)
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