‘A day to honor the patriotism, love of country, and sacrifice of those martyrs,’ writes anti-Israel group Columbia University Apartheid Divest
Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), the infamous anti-Israel student group, protested Veterans Day by hosting a “Martyrs Day” event honoring “those martyred by the Israel-US war machine.”
In an Instagram post, CUAD, which has celebrated Hamas terrorists and praised attacks on Israelis, welcomed attendees to “read a martyr’s story and plant a poppy in their memory.” About 80 people attended the event.
All I know is that having around 80 students protesting Veteran’s Day isn’t a good look for @Columbia only days after Trump won the election…
I don’t get it — is Columbia not afraid of losing federal funding? pic.twitter.com/6Un0HxcLBi
— Eliana Goldin (@Eliana_Goldin) November 11, 2024
“We reject this holiday [Veterans Day] and refuse to celebrate it. The American war machine should not be honored for the horrors unleashed on others,” read the Saturday Instagram post advertising the event. “Instead, we will celebrate Martyrs Day in honor of those martyred by the Israel-US war machine. A day to honor the patriotism, love of country, and sacrifice of those martyrs.”
The student group also reiterated its demands for “divestment at Columbia, and the total liberation of Palestinians,” accused the university of complicity in the alleged genocide, and handed out flyers reading, “Your tuition money funds genocide.”
“We call on Columbia to adhere to CUAD’s demands for the sake of life in Palestine, Turtle Island, and everywhere in between,” one protester said at Monday’s event. “Turtle Island” refers to a Native American term for North America.
Students at Columbia are beginning to protest Veteran’s Day.
When we told you the anti-Israel protesters were always anti-American, this is exactly what we meant.
This is about more than just antisemitism. This is anti-Western civilization. pic.twitter.com/JnfQInLtjA
— Eliana Goldin (@Eliana_Goldin) November 11, 2024
CUAD has been linked to terrorist groups, most notably Samidoun, the self-described “Palestine Prisoner Solidarity Network” that the United States and Canada recently sanctioned for operating as an arm of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. CUAD hosted a March event with Samidoun leaders Charlotte Kates and Khaled Barakat, both of whom have endorsed terrorism against Israel.
CUAD has also repeatedly applauded terrorists in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks. On the anniversary of the attacks, members gathered to chant, “One solution,” “Resistance is justified,” and “I believe that we will win.” They went on to join a wider New York City protest organized by the anti-Semitic organization, Within Our Lifetime. There, several protesters surrounded and attacked Democratic Majority for Israel co-chair Todd Richman, bloodying his nose.
The group also celebrated the Oct. 1 terrorist shooting in Tel Aviv, which killed seven Israeli civilians, and the concurrent Iranian missile strikes. In an essay published on Substack, the anti-Israel group called the strikes a “bold move” and “a significant leap in the resistance.”
After Israel killed Yahya Sinwar, CUAD posted a tribute to the Hamas leader, sharing a digital copy of his book and quoting him as saying that Hamas would “defend our people with whatever weapons we have.”
Sen. Joni Ernst (Iowa) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), both Republicans, condemned CUAD after the group issued a statement that said, “Violence is the only path forward.” The comment was part of CUAD’s defense of Khymani James, a member who has posted online about his desire to murder Zionists.
“It’s rare for potential perpetrators of violence, particularly school-based violence, to widely and publicly broadcast their intent in such a way as it becomes national news,” Ernst and Stefanik wrote in a letter to the FBI’s New York Field Office obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. “But that’s exactly what the Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a coalition of student groups, did on October 8, 2024.”
In response to a request for comment, a Columbia spokesperson told the Free Beacon, “A small group demonstrated earlier today, and our public safety team monitored closely for any disruptions to campus activity. As always, we are committed to preserving our core mission to teach, create, and advance knowledge.”
