On Monday, September 30, Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), Housing Equity Project (HEP), and local organization Defend Harlem held a protest in opposition to Columbia’s expansion into the Harlem community.

On Monday, September 30 at 6 pm, members of CUAD (Columbia University Apartheid Divest), HEP (Housing Equity Coalition), and Defend Harlem led a protest against Columbia’s gentrification and expansion into Harlem. The groups demonstrated outside Columbia University’s 116th Street and Broadway main gates. 

The protest began with one of the organizers, a member of either CUAD or HEP, explaining to demonstrators that half the sidewalk should be left accessible to pedestrians to comply with New York State law. He asked for the group to split up, half standing closer to the gates while the other half standing close to the street, allowing the middle to be accessible. 

Protestors divide themselves on the sidewalk to obey NY state laws

A student organizer introduced HEP and CUAD as being at the protest “on behalf of Defend Harlem and the New York Interfaith Commission” to amplify their calls against Harlem’s gentrification by Columbia. The student further stated that representatives of Defend Harlem were present but “[did] not feel safe speaking” due to “Columbia’s repugnant threats of police violence from the NYPD,” seemingly referring to NYPD’s presence at campus demonstrations throughout the last and current academic years. Protestors chanted “Shame” in condemnation of Columbia throughout the speech.

The speaker continued, “Columbia claims their expansion is for the sake of students, but this is not true. We are the students and we unequivocally stand against Columbia’s continued gentrification of Harlem.” As she ended her remarks, demonstrators cheered and played the drums. 

Protestors repeated chants including “Columbia, Columbia you can’t hide, you displace and gentrify,” “We want justice, you say how, Columbia out of Harlem now,” “From Harlem to Wash[ington] Heights, housing is a human right,” “No more corporate greed, Harlem knows what Harlem needs,” and “Columbia, Columbia open your eyes. Harlem is not yours to buy.”

In a following speech, another student admonished the institution for reportedly acting in contradiction to its educational values. “If you have ever heard a word out of the administration’s mouth, there is nothing they love to flaunt more than their Core Curriculum,” the student said. “Columbia says the lessons the Core teaches are supposed to help create a just society overall and cultivate community-wide discourse, and yet when you peel back the curtains and look at Columbia’s past and present on segregation and racism, it’s all a lie.” They were seemingly referencing the displacement of Black residents during the Harlem Renaissance when Columbia purchased the land from 114th to 122nd Street between Broadway and Amsterdam. 

The speaker continued, “After pushback from the Harlem community, Columbia promised to negotiate a Community Benefits Agreement or CBA. The CBA included promises of 20 million to the Harlem community for affordable housing, 76 million as a benefits fund, and another 20 million to the community for hosting events and local engagement. Columbia also promised 5000 square feet for Harlem artists.” The speaker claimed that this has not been the case. “[Columbia] has only given two percent of the money for local engagement in 15 years and only gave half of what it promised for affordable housing, and the space for housing has still not been reserved.”

The speech ended with cheers from the audience as members from CUAD and HEP handed out posters for the demonstrators to hold. One poster read “Espillat: Speak out” referencing Adriano Espaillat, former New York Senator and current US Representative. Espaillat represents District 13 which covers Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Manhattanville, Morningside Heights, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill, and the North-West Bronx. 

Protestors holding a sign condemning Rep. Espaillat 

One of the many posters seen at the protest

After the chants, another speaker came forward. She began with “our obligation as Columbia students is to stand against the Ivy imperialism, practiced by Columbia University. At a teach-in held in the Bronx, an elder allegedly stated that as people who take from this community, it is our duty to act in its best interest. We must dismantle colonial narratives that are regurgitated through gentrification in New York City, especially by Columbia University.” She continued by claiming that Columbia promotes its cultural diversity and proximity to Harlem while continuing to “alienate” Harlemites and displace them. “From Harlem to Palestine, displacement and dispossession stems from the colonial mindset of those in power which necessitates the displacement of communities for their own profit-driven ends,” she stated. 

Another poster shown at the protests 

The protest continued for another 15 minutes, and as the sun started to set, organizers began their closing remarks. The speakers urged Columbia to honor the CBA and cease its expansion and gentrification in Harlem. They ended by urging demonstrators to sign a petition barring Columbia University from expanding and “alienating” Harlem residents. 

Demonstrators displayed this poster throughout the protest 

All photos via Bwog Staff