Operation punch in the Trump Tower, in New York. Several hundred Propalestinian activists have invested the ultra-secure skyscraper from Manhattan on Thursday, March 13, the University of Columbia announcing sanctions against students at the same time who had occupied one of its buildings in support of Palestine.
Dressed in red t-shirts with white inscriptions, in reference to Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement, these people who answered the call of the American organization Jewish Voice for Peace (the Jewish voice for peace) penetrated at the end of the morning into the New York lair of the President of the United States, of which they denounce the spin on freedom of expression.
“Fight the Nazis, not students”they notably sung in chorus, before being for some manu militari from the hall covered with gilding and pink marble, reported journalists from the France-Presse agency. The demonstrators referred to the arrest, on March 9, of a figure of the Propalestinian demonstrations of the New York University of Columbia, which created a national shock wave and aroused the indignation of the defenders of freedom of expression.
“Free Mahmoud, Palestine Libre”
“Free Mahmoud, Palestine Libre”could we read on a banner, still in connection with the placement in detention for his expulsion of Mahmoud Khalil, yet holder of a green card of permanent resident. The young man served as spokespersons for a student movement from Columbia against the war waged by Israel in Gaza.
According to New York police, 98 people were arrested on Thursday. In the early afternoon, calm returned inside the Trump Tower.
The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil reveals “That we are on the verge of a total takeover by an authoritarian diet”estimated Jane Hirschmann, who describes himself as a descendant of Holocaust survivors. “As Jews of conscience, we know our history and know where it leads. This is what fascists do “she added.
Foreign demonstrators threatened with expulsion
“I’m here to (…) Demand that our Judeity is not used as a weapon to violate the rights of American citizens and put an end to democracy ”said James Schamus, a “Jewish teacher” from Columbia. For him, the fight against anti -Semitism displayed by Donald Trump is a “Smoke screen”.
The republican president has targeted universities for a few days, promising in the name of the fight against anti -Semitism of retaliatory measures to institutions that do not effectively fight to his taste against manifestations that shake the faculties against war in Gaza. Its administration has already removed $ 400 million (368 million euros) from subsidies in Columbia.
Newsletter
“In the front page”
Each morning, browse most of the news of the day with the last titles of the “world”
Register
The latter announced on Thursday that she had pronounced sanctions like “Suspensions of several years, temporary revocations of diplomas and expulsions” Against Propalestinian students who participated in the occupation of a building of the prestigious university establishment in the spring of 2024. These few dozen protesters had been expelled by the police.
Donald Trump also threatens to expulsion foreign nationals who participate in these demonstrations. On this subject, he promised that the procedure against Mahmoud Khalil would be followed by “Many others”.