In Columbia University's protests of 1968 and 2024, what's similar — and different
There are parallels between the two high-profile events, most starkly the proliferation of similar protests around the country. But key differences set them apart.
A takeover of Columbia University's South Lawn by pro-Palestinian students last week is drawing comparisons to 1968 — another time when police were called to clear protesting students from the campus.
There are parallels between the two high-profile events, most starkly the proliferation of similar protests around the country, as students call for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
But there are also differences. Here's a quick guide:
Several issues were at stake in 1968
For many Columbia students in 1968, their protest was motivated by anger over the that were chipping away at students' deferments, particularly in graduate schools.
