Columbia University’s stand-in President, Claire Shipman, faced a rowdy crowd at a graduation ceremony on Tuesday morning. As she stepped up to the stage to address the audience, she was met with a cacophony of boos and chants demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil. Videos circulating on social media and the school’s official recording captured the moment when Shipman attempted to speak but was drowned out by the protesters.
The chants calling for “Free Mahmoud” were directed at Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student who was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement back in March at his apartment in New York City. The situation escalated as Shipman tried to address the audience, acknowledging their frustrations and emphasizing the university’s commitment to free speech. Despite her attempts to continue with her speech, the crowd persisted with their demands for Khalil’s release, disrupting the ceremony.
Khalil, a green card holder from Syria, had been actively involved in organizing pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus. Following his detention, he has been held at a facility in Louisiana, fighting against deportation in the face of the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies. The controversy surrounding Khalil’s case and the wider protests against the administration’s actions have cast a shadow over Columbia University, drawing attention to the ongoing struggles faced by students like him.
