Columbia University has given the Gaza Solidarity Encampment/Liberated Zone until 9pm to clear the lawn. Negotiations ongoing. Per multiple sources off-acampus, there are a significant number of NYPD outside that seem ready to move in. Students are going over Know Your Rights.
Students at @Columbia are having lots of last-minute conversations in anticipation of NYPD descending on their school to forcibly clear out a non-violent protest against genocide. Easily 300 students here, bracing to repeat an ugly history.
@Columbia Demonstrators are making dua. Lunar New Year dragons are stretching by the encampment, because why not, and protestors outside are still rallying, just set off flares. Housekeeping note: If things move quickly I will be recording hard footage instead of pausing to update.
@Columbia It’s 9:15pm, it is raining again, and the air feels heavy with the weight of so many people at Columbia University diligently waiting. Some fidget, some gaze at nothing while standing stone still.
@Columbia There’s two protests happening inside Columbia — one is the encampment on the lawn, the second is the support demo rallying off the lawn. There’s a third protest outside Columbia, in solidarity with the encampment as well.