Columbia University declares zero tolerance policy on campus encampments ahead of new protests

Columbia University has issued a stern warning to students and staff as it braces for the return of anti-Israel tent encampments on campus. The university’s Department of Public Safety sent out an email alert on Wednesday after learning of protesters’ plans to set up demonstrations on university grounds.

“We have been made aware of possible plans to establish encampments on Columbia’s campuses,” the message read. “We want to clearly communicate that camping and encampments on Columbia’s campuses are prohibited by university policy.”

The university pledged to act swiftly, stating it would dismantle any tents erected on the Morningside Heights campus and would not hesitate to have disruptive demonstrators arrested.

While reaffirming its support for free expression, the university emphasized that protests must comply with institutional policies to ensure campus safety and maintain uninterrupted academic activities.

The warning followed a secret meeting held earlier this week in Brooklyn, where roughly 100 individuals reportedly gathered to plan the protests, according to NBC News. Organizers, who concealed their identities and wore masks during the meeting, discussed staging the encampment on Thursday and Friday.

“Our goal is to unify the space and make it our own,” one speaker was heard saying in a recording of the meeting. Organizers also cautioned participants not to wear face coverings upon arriving at campus to avoid detection by security.

“Any action that we do will bring police, will bring repression and we thought about that deeply and we’re aware of that,” said one of the group’s leaders.