The Columbia Spectator, an undergrad student newspaper, reported Columbia University students were allegedly sprayed with a hazardous chemical while attending a pro-Palestinian rally on Jan. 19. According to nearly two dozen students reported a foul smell, physical symptoms, or property damage after the protest.
Pro-Palestine supporters protest in front of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s headquarters in Sydney in response to the broadcaster’s decision to not have a live audience for its panel discussion on the Israel-Hamas War.
Spectator interviewed four students, gathered testimonials from eight protest participants anonymously through a restricted Google Form accessible only to LionMail accounts, and examined 12 submissions to Columbia's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter. Among the findings, 18 students noted a foul odor during or after the protest, while 10 experienced physical symptoms like burning eyes, headaches, and nausea-resulting in three seeking medical assistance. It also noted that eight reported damage to their personal belongings.
Two students expressed concerns about their safety on campus during interviews with Spectator, fearing that incidents like this may continue. Public Safety "is investigating incidents reported in connection with Friday's protest that are of great concern," according to a Sunday evening statement from the department. The department received an initial complaint on Friday night and additional complaints on Sunday, according to the statement, and "has been actively working with local and federal authorities in this investigation, with the NYPD taking a lead role."
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today condemned the reported use of a foul-smelling chemical agent suspected to be the product "Skunk" during a pro-Palestine protest.
CAIR elaborated on "Skunk" by explaining that it's a chemical invented by Israeli firm Odortec and first used by the Israeli military against demonstrators in the occupied West Bank in 2008. It is most often used by the Israeli occupation forces as a form of collective punishment against Palestinians for daring to protest. It has since been developed by Mistral, a US company, and is used by police departments.
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:
"Once again, we are witnessing the suppression and silencing of pro-Palestinian voices on campus. SJP and JVP are dedicated to holding institutions, including institutions of higher learning, to account for their support of Israeli apartheid and genocide of the people of Gaza. This brave, principled stance seems to bother the administration of Columbia University. We stand in solidarity with them and call on the university to stop this attack on constitutionally protected free speech."
Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voices for Peace released a joint statement via their Instagram platforms stating they've identified two of the perpetrators, and have confirmation that both are former Israeli soldiers and current Columbia students. They were wearing fake keffiyehs to blend in with the crowd before spraying protesters discreetly. Their post goes on to say, "So far, Columbia has done absolutely nothing about the hundreds of reports of unrelenting harassment that pro-Palestine students have been facing, not just from other students but from a certain Columbia faculty member. However, this is the imported use of an illegal weapon. This is a hate crime that has permanently destroyed the property of dozens of students."
They're demanding Columbia launch an investigation immediately and take action against the guilty parties. They are also demanding that Columbia start taking the constant hateful attacks on its students seriously before someone is killed.
