Columbia University has taken action against a student protest leader, Khymani James, affiliated with the Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) coalition, after controversial remarks resurfaced from a video dating back to January.
In the video, James is heard stating, “Zionists don’t deserve to live.” This statement prompted the university to ban him from campus, as confirmed by a university spokesperson.
Following the resurgence of the video, James addressed the issue on social media platform X, acknowledging his words and attributing them to misspeaking in the heat of the moment. He issued an apology for his remarks.
Following an interview with CNN at Columbia University where Khymani James declined to apologize for a resurfaced video, he issued an apology early Friday morning. In the video, James made controversial remarks, stating that the focus should be on Palestinian liberation rather than apologizing.
Hours after the interview, during a teleconference on Friday, the university decided to discipline James. A spokesperson confirmed that he has been banned from campus as a result of his remarks.
This decision comes amidst ongoing tensions between the university and pro-Palestinian protestors who have been demonstrating on campus for over a week.
On Friday, the students who sparked pro-Palestinian demonstrations nationwide announced that they have hit a deadlock with administrators and plan to persist with their encampment until their demands are addressed.
Amid escalating casualties in the Gaza conflict and a deepening humanitarian crisis, protesters at Columbia University and various other universities are advocating for institutions to sever financial connections with Israel and divest from companies alleged to be contributing to the conflict.
