'Persecution': Outpouring of anger after 'termination' of pro-Palestine Columbia professor

Academics, activists and alumni are criticising Columbia University this week after tenured professor Katherine Franke announced that the institution pressured her to retire over her vocal criticism of Israel and support for pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

Franke founded the Center for Gender and Sexuality Law and served on the executive committee of Columbia's Center for Palestine Studies.

Late last week, she announced in a statement that she had "reached an agreement" with the university to retire after serving 25 years as a law faculty member. But while the university may call this change in status "retirement", Franke said, it should be "understood as a termination dressed up in more palatable terms".

"I have come to regard Columbia Law School as a hostile work environment in which I can no longer enter the classroom, hold office hours, walk through the campus, or engage in faculty governance functions free from egregious and unwelcome harassment on account of my defense of students’ freedom to protest and express views that are critical of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians." 

The agreement was reached after the university decided that Franke's statement during a January 2024 Democracy Now! interview - in which she condemned students who were former members of the Israeli army for spraying pro-Palestine students with a chemical - violated equal opportunity and affirmative action (EOAA) policies. 

A Columbia spokesperson reiterated the university's stance to Middle East Eye, stating: "As made public by parties in this matter, a complaint was filed alleging discriminatory harassment in violation of our policies. An investigation was conducted, and a finding was issued. As we have consistently stated, the University is committed to addressing all forms of discrimination consistent with our policies.”

MEE did not receive a response from Franke by the time of publication.

'McCarthyite escalation'

There has been an outpouring of posts online, both in defence of Franke and in fierce criticism of Columbia, from academics and activists worldwide. 

"Unwavering solidarity to @ProfKFranke," UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories posted on X. "Yet another victim of the pro-Israelism that is turning universities, and other spaces of public life, into places of obscurantism, discrimination and oppression."

Shame on @Columbia for presiding over this affront to higher learning, for investigating Franke while letting faculty and students engage in the worst discrimination w impunity, for steadily becoming the worst version of yourself.

— Noura Erakat (@4noura) January 12, 2025

"This is genuine McCarthyite escalation," one account posted on X. 

At Columbia, this is genuine McCarthyite escalation. I was naive enough to think the administration would not go so very far to placate the Republicans, the trustees, the donors, the Israel lobby.https://t.co/BCi1SJBEuL

— Bruce Robbins (@BruceRobbins6) January 11, 2025

A former student of Franke said that although she wasn't "a fan" of Franke's interview on Democracy Now!, she does not believe it justified "the extreme reaction from Columbia or the harassment [Franke] endured".

She taught me so much of what I know and has profoundly shaped how I view the world. I am also an Israeli, which was never ever an issue during our time together. This is a tremendous loss for students and for the entire academic community at @ColumbiaLaw.

— Lihi Yona (@lihiy) January 11, 2025

Many online have compared Franke's outcome to that of Columbia business assistant professor Shai Davidai, who many pro-Palestine students have accused of harassment since the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.

I’m old enough to remember when Shai filmed students praying Friday prayers on Columbias campus and told the world to come look at though they were doing something shameful or illegal yet he still has a job and Kathrine Franke does not. Read for yourself:https://t.co/vqwHtWjHeb

— Heba Gowayed هبة جويد (@hebagowayed) January 11, 2025

"Remember when Shai harassed students and stalked them endlessly but only got punished by Columbia when he turned on his benefactors in the administration? What’s happened to [Franke] is political persecution, pure and simple," another X account posted. 

In contrast to those who see Franke's resignation as a worrying sign of censorship, Davidai was one of many who celebrated the news. 

Turns out antisemitism and support for terrorism may not be as lucrative as @ProfKFranke had thought it would be.

Good riddance, bigot! https://t.co/t5CLtHfbRD

— Shai Davidai (@ShaiDavidai) January 10, 2025

As for what's next for Franke, she wrote in her statement that although she is walking away from Columbia, it is not because "weaponising the EOAA process to chill and punish [her]] advocacy on the students' behalf" has won. 

"Rather, I aim to refocus my efforts on fighting for the rights and dignity of Palestinians, resisting the pull of a disingenuous distraction at Columbia. I will always be a teacher, and am always learning."