'It’s really tense': pro-Palestine protests continue at Columbia University

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — The clock is ticking for pro-Palestine supporters to dismantle their encampment at Columbia University as protests intensify across the city.

Student protestors are facing a looming deadline of Friday to remove their encampment as tensions remain high on and around campus, where several rallies have taken place over the past week — like one on West 116th Street and Broadway Thursday night. Supporters of Palestine are calling for the school to stop investing money in companies linked to Israel, amid what they say is a growing genocide in Gaza.

Pro-Israel demonstrators flooded the streets outside the campus Thursday as Columbia has become an epicenter of protests, sparking rallies at universities across the city and country. 

Discussions between the university and student protestors remain ongoing with both sides having their own lists of demands. School officials say if those talks are not successful, they’ll have to consider options to restore calm to campus. 

As tensions soar, some Columbia students find themselves navigating an atmosphere of heightened emotions as they try to focus on their studies. 

“It’s really tense,” said Columbia University Freshman Sophie Kasson. “It’s a bit hard to focus with like — I live at Barnard so everything’s right outside of my window. It’s hard to go to sleep at night ‘cause I can just hear everything all the time.”

Access to campus remains student-only. With protests continuing to spark up both on and off campus school officials have asked NYPD to increase security around the university.