On Columbia University's first day of classes, anti-Israel protests erupted, led by groups including Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) and Students for Justice in Palestine, who formed picket lines urging students to abstain from attending classes. The protests were marked by vandalism, including the Alma Mater statue being covered in red paint, with the group 'Unity of Fields' declaring this action as the first of many against what they perceive as the university's complicity in oppression. Protesters argued that returning to 'normalcy' amidst ongoing violence in Gaza was unacceptable, with CUAD demanding full divestment from any connections to Israel. Tensions were heightened by a recent report on antisemitism at Columbia, which highlighted violence against Jewish students and called for improved protections. The NYPD intervened, setting up barricades and making arrests as the protests unfolded. The ongoing unrest signals a challenging atmosphere for both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students as the academic year begins.