Jewish Students Address US Lawmakers Amid Columbia University Protests

Jewish student activists from Columbia University, driven by their faith, met with U.S. lawmakers in Washington, DC, to share their pro-Palestinian stance and challenge mainstream narratives linking campus protests to antisemitism. Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace Action, the group aimed to defend student activists like Mahmoud Khalil, detained by the Trump administration. Columbia has been a central protest site against Israel’s actions in Gaza, where over 52,000 Palestinians have been killed. Student Tali Beckwith-Cohen, raised with Zionist views, described her ideological shift after learning Palestinian history and now advocates for Palestinian rights in response to the Gaza war.