Timeline of the nationwide protest movement that began at Columbia University
Pro-Israel demonstrators gather for the "Bring Them Home Now" rally outside the Columbia University, April 26, 2024, in New York. Pro-Palestinian protesters have dominated university quads in the last two weeks, shutting down colleges and clashing with riot police. But there’s been a notable scarcity of student rallies in solidarity with Israelis. Credit: AP/Yuki Iwamura
Columbia University announced on Monday that it has canceled its university-wide commencement ceremony because of disruptions caused by recent pro-Palestinian protests. Students will still be able to celebrate at a series of smaller, school-based graduation ceremonies this week and next.
The protest movement connected to the Israel-Hamas war began nearly three weeks ago at the Ivy League university in New York City. It has since swept college campuses nationwide, with more than 2,500 people arrested.
The university's large graduation ceremony was scheduled for May 15 on the college's main lawn, which is where a protest encampment was based until authorities dismantled it last week. University officials said the past few weeks have been “incredibly difficult” for the community, and that they decided to cancel the ceremony after discussing it with students.
A timeline illustrating how Columbia University became the driving force behind protests on college campuses across the country:
