US govt to probe Columbia protests for ‘violations’

NEW YORK: The US Justice Department said on Friday it was looking into what it said were possible violations of terrorism laws during pro- tests over the Gaza war at Columbia University, putting fresh pressure on the epicentre of last year’s nationwide anti-Israel activism.

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Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the investigation was part of President Donald Trump's “mission to end antisemitism in this country,” calling it a pushback that was “long overdue.”

Civil rights proponents criticised the move, saying that protesters were covered by the First ‘Amendment of the Constitution, which protects rights including free speech.

The announcement is the latest in a series of signals that the Trump administration has no intention of easing its crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activists and university policies that it says allow antisemitism to flourish on campus.