MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, Manhattan (PIX11) – Pro-Palestinian protests inside the Columbia University campus are expected to continue Friday as talks between the school and demonstrators are ongoing.
Protesters were given originally given a 12:01 a.m. Friday deadline to clear the encampments. Despite the deadline passing as of early Friday morning, discussions between the school and students have shown progress when it comes to dismantling and dispersing, according to the school's Office of Public Affairs.
"We have our demands; they have theirs. A formal process is underway and continues," Columbia officials said.
The NYPD was allegedly invited to campus Thursday night, but the school claimed that was false rumors. One person was arrested and two summonses were given out Thursday night in connection to the ongoing protest, according to the NYPD.
Protesters are calling for the school to stop investing money in companies linked to Israel amid what they called a growing genocide in Gaza. Pro-Israel demonstrators and some Jewish students told PIX11 News they don’t feel safe on campus.
"My daughter is on campus here and is subject to all of the disgusting rhetoric that has been going on so I’m here in combination for myself and as a concerned mother," said Amy Gallatin, a pro-Israel demonstrator.
The NYPD is also searching for a suspect accused of stealing a blue and white flag from a man near the Columbia protests last Saturday. Another person is accused of throwing a rock at the man before someone else lit the flag on fire, according to authorities.
Police were unable to confirm if the flag was an Israeli flag.
There will be a rally at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at the main gate of Columbia in support of hostages still being held by Hamas.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.
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