A Columbia University student demonstration aimed at “reclaiming” Veterans Day in support of Palestinians killed in Gaza was quite different from the protests that occurred on campus last year. In a surprising turn of events, student veterans showed up to confront the agitators and proudly demonstrate their own pride.
Around 30 Columbia students and student-veterans came together at the campus sundial on Monday morning. They planted American flags in the same location where the scheduled “Martyrs Day” demonstration was about to happen an hour later.
A lively atmosphere filled the air as they tossed a football and played music, creating a festive ambiance. Meanwhile, a small group of detractors gathered on the lawn in front of the school’s library, expressing their dissenting viewpoint.
Sam Nahins, a 31-year-old Air Force veteran and Columbia grad student, was one of the organizers behind the “a celebration of veteran’s pride” event during the Veterans Day Parade. According to Nahins, the main objective was to shift the focus away from the parade and instead highlight the veterans who were commemorating Veterans Day. The aim was to create an atmosphere where veterans could come together and take pride in their service.
According to Nahins, many non-veteran students expressed their interest in participating in the event. The purpose of the demonstration is to express gratitude towards the individuals who are attending and to create a positive and impactful experience.
A fence divider was put in place by the school to separate the groups in anticipation of the dueling demonstrations. Additionally, extra security personnel were deployed to monitor the situation.
The student group, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, organized an event called “Martyrs Day.” During this unsanctioned event, they expressed their view that the federal holiday is an abomination and labeled US veterans as killers.
A flyer promoting a demonstration circulated over the weekend, expressing strong opposition to celebrating Veterans Day. The flyer stated, “We reject this holiday and refuse to celebrate it.” The demonstration aims to challenge the traditional notion of honoring veterans, highlighting a different perspective on patriotism, love of country, and sacrifice.
The number of anti-Israel students present at the time was much smaller compared to the large encampments that took over the campus after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Nahins admitted that he didn’t pay much attention to the opposing side during the game. He recalled an incident where one person approached them and started yelling, while another individual ran onto the field and shouted at them. Due to the loud music playing, Nahins couldn’t make out what they were saying.
Last year’s protests at the school were a chaotic and escalating situation. They reached a point where anti-Israeli protestors took over a building, leading to an intervention by the NYPD. As a consequence of her handling of this explosive situation, University president Minouche Shafik eventually stepped down from her position.
Last year, numerous outside agitators joined the ranks of anti-Israel protests, leading to an increase in the number of demonstrations. As a result, the campus security has tightened its measures, and now a school ID is required to gain entry.
According to witnesses, all the participants in the “Martyrs Day” event seemed to be students.
Campus veterans have shown their resilience and composure in the face of hostility on multiple occasions.
Last spring, Nahins shared that he and his fellow veterans frequently faced hostility from the anti-Israel encampments on campus. They would often be subjected to derogatory labels such as “baby killers,” “murderers,” and “infidels” while simply walking across the campus.
Instead of allowing themselves to be provoked, Nahins mentioned that the veterans responded in a calm and respectful manner. They did not break any rules and instead chose to show their patriotism by waving American flags on campus.
“We didn’t provoke anyone or insult anyone. Faculty members even gave us the middle finger, and there were students wearing keffiyehs on their faces, trying to intimidate us. However, we remained composed,” Nahins recalled.
“The unsung heroism of the veterans really spoke to me,” said the speaker.