Pro-Palestine students at Columbia University claimed that they were sprayed with a chemical weapon developed by the Israeli military at a rally in January, although a lawsuit uncovered that the “hazardous chemical” was really a gag gift spray used for pranks.
The pro-Palestinian students told the Columbia Spectator that they had been sprayed with “skunk,” a crowd-control chemical developed by the Israeli Defense Force. The NYPD initiated a probe into whether students used chemical weapons against their pro-Palestine peers during the protests.
One Jewish student was reportedly suspended for using a “hazardous chemical” during the protests as a possible “hate crime,” according to the Free Beacon. Columbia’s president, Minouche Shafik, reiterated the now-debunked claims that pro-Palestine students “were sprayed with a toxic chemical.”
According to a lawsuit filed against the university, the suspended student used a “fart spray” gag gift on the Palestinian protesters. The product can be purchased on Amazon for $10.99. The lawsuit was filed by the Jewish student who was suspended and allegedly presumed “guilty from the start” because of his affiliation with Israel.
According to the lawsuit, the Jewish student’s punishment was “irregular” as Columbia had not disciplined students who held the unsanctioned pro-Palestine protests.
Columbia has seemingly changed its tune on dealing with pro-Palestinian protesters on campus. On April 18, the university president approved cops to clear the campus of the 108 anti-Israel protesters.
More than 100 protesters were cuffed and hauled away from Columbia by NYPD cops, according to the New York Post. Among those arrested was Isra Hiris, the daughter of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Two of the protesters received obstruction of governmental administration summons.
Eric Adams, the Mayor of New York City, said that students do not have the right to violate university policies.
“Students have a right to free speech. They do not have a right to violate university policies and disrupt learning on campus,” Adams said. “I know the conflict in the Middle East has left many of us grieving and angry. This is a painful moment for our city, for our country, and for the globe … But that heartbreak does not give you the right to harass others, to spread hate.”
This piece first appeared at TPUSA.
