A Look Back At The Student Protests Of 1968

Columbia’s Protests of 68: A Historical Reflection

A Look Back at the Student Protests of 1968

In the tumultuous spring of 1968, the campus of Columbia University became a battleground for student protests against the Vietnam War, university expansion, and racial inequality. The protests reached their peak on April 30th, when police clashed with demonstrators at the university's Low Memorial Library.

The Black Power Movement and Campus Protests

The protests at Columbia were part of a wave of campus unrest that swept across the United States in the late 1960s. These protests were largely fueled by the Black Power movement, which sought to empower African Americans and fight for their rights.

The Protests at Columbia

The protests at Columbia began in March 1968, when students occupied a university building to protest the school's expansion into Morningside Park. The protests quickly escalated, and students soon began to demand a greater voice in university governance and an end to the Vietnam War.

On April 30th, police were called to clear out the protesters who had occupied the university's Low Memorial Library. The police used tear gas and clubs to disperse the demonstrators, and several people were injured.

The Legacy of the Protests

The protests at Columbia had a lasting impact on the university and on the nation as a whole. The protests helped to raise awareness of the issues of racial inequality and the Vietnam War, and they led to a number of reforms at the university.

Today, the protests of 1968 are remembered as a watershed moment in American history. They stand as a testament to the power of student activism and the importance of fighting for one's beliefs.