On December 6, 2021, over 100 students were arrested in a protest at Columbia University in New York City. The students were calling for the university to divest from fossil fuels and to better address issues of climate change. The protest was organized by a group called Fossil Free CU, which has been advocating for Columbia to drop its investments in fossil fuel companies for several years.
The protest began outside of Columbia’s Low Library, where students had gathered to demand action on climate change. Despite the cold weather, the students were determined to make their voices heard. They held signs and chanted slogans calling for divestment and climate justice.
As the protest progressed, tensions began to rise between the students and campus security. Eventually, the police were called in to disperse the crowd. The students were given multiple warnings to leave the area, but many refused to comply. In the end, over 100 students were arrested and taken into custody.
The arrests have sparked outrage among the student body and the broader community. Many have criticized the heavy-handed response by the university and law enforcement. Some have questioned why the students were arrested for peacefully protesting, while others have expressed support for the students’ demands for climate action.
Columbia University has not commented on the arrests, but it is clear that the issue of divestment from fossil fuels is a contentious one on campus. The university has faced pressure from student activists for years to align its investment practices with its commitment to sustainability and combating climate change.
The protests at Columbia are just the latest example of the growing momentum of the climate justice movement among young people. As the impacts of climate change become more evident and urgent, students are increasingly taking to the streets to demand action from their institutions and governments.
It remains to be seen what impact the arrests will have on Columbia’s divestment policies and its relationship with student activists. But one thing is clear: the issue of climate change is not going away, and students are prepared to continue fighting for a sustainable future.
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