New York : Alumni from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) staged a dramatic protest by tearing up their diplomas in response to the federal government’s arrest of graduate student Mahmoud Khalil over his activism for Palestinians.
The protest, held on March 29 outside the Columbia campus, was organized by SIPA’s and Barnard Alumni for Palestine groups. Participants condemned the university’s alleged complicity in Khalil’s arrest and criticized its administration for prioritizing surveillance over student protection.
Amali Tower, a 2009 SIPA alum, publicly tore her diploma, declaring, “I’m not a proud alum at all. I stand with the students, with Palestinians, and with immigrants facing oppression.” Another participant, identified only as Hannah, expressed her Jewish beliefs as a reason for supporting Palestinian rights, condemning Columbia’s past and present leadership for failing to protect student activists.
Current SIPA student Jasmine Sarryeh highlighted the fear gripping the campus, describing Khalil as a beloved community member who was unjustly taken from his pregnant wife.
Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident, was arrested earlier in March, sparking concerns over increasing detentions of students involved in Palestinian activism. Other detainees include Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, and Yunseo Chung, a Columbia student whose green card was revoked by federal authorities.
The protest adds to the growing outcry against the suppression of pro-Palestinian voices on U.S. campuses, with activists calling for justice and institutional accountability.
