U.S. to probe Columbia protests for terrorism violations, official says

15/3/2025 6:19

The U.S. Justice Department said on Friday it was looking into what it said were possible violations of terrorism laws during protests over the Gaza war at Columbia University, putting fresh pressure on the epicenter of last year's nationwide anti-Israel activism.



Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the investigation was part of President Donald Trump's "mission to end antisemitism in this country," calling it a pushback that was "long overdue."



Civil rights proponents criticized the move, saying that protesters were covered by the First Amendment of the Constitution, which protects rights including free speech.



The announcement is the latest in a series of signals that the Trump administration has no intention of easing its crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activists and university policies that it says allow antisemitism to flourish on campus.



The Trump administration has told Columbia that the school must make a series of policy changes as a precondition for beginning talks on restoring $400 million in federal funding suspended last week.