Students Rally in New York and Nationwide to Demand Release of Detained Columbia Activist Mahmoud Khalil

On Tuesday, students convened in New York City’s Washington Square to protest the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and student at Columbia University. Khalil was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents over the weekend, prompting a series of demonstrations demanding his release. The protest in New York was part of a broader movement, with rallies also planned in other major cities.

The protest activities in New York included a “Free Mahmoud Khalil” walkout initially scheduled to occur at Columbia University. However, organizers considered relocating the event to off-campus locations. Additional demonstrations were planned throughout the day, including a gathering at City Hall at noon and a march at Washington Square Park at 2 p.m. The student demonstrators expressed their desire for ICE to be removed from college campuses, highlighting concerns over the presence of immigration enforcement in educational settings.

Earlier in the day, a sit-in took place at Columbia University, where dozens of students participated. This was followed by a larger assembly of nearly 200 people at Washington Square Park. The protests underscored a broader message against oppression, with participants emphasizing solidarity against perceived injustices. One student articulated the sentiment by stating, “Any sort of oppression anywhere is a threat to all of us.”

In addition to the New York events, a rally was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Federal Plaza in Chicago, indicating the national scope of the protests. The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil has sparked significant attention and mobilization, with demonstrators calling for his release and advocating for broader changes in immigration enforcement policies on college campuses.