Negotiations between protesters and officials at Columbia University have been extended for 48 hours regarding the clearing of the lawn with the encampment. Student protesters have secured a concession from the university that law enforcement will not be called on their peaceful protests. This development was announced by a student at Columbia during a news briefing on Wednesday afternoon.
Despite receiving written assurances that their encampment will be allowed to continue, the protesters claim that the university is still attempting to suppress their political speech by making threats. The university, however, stated in a release early Wednesday that the student protesters have agreed to dismantle and remove a significant number of tents.
One of the student protesters expressed dissatisfaction with this agreement, labeling it as a 'bad faith negotiation' that occurred before the university allegedly threatened to involve the National Guard. In response, a university official clarified that deploying the National Guard was never a consideration.
When questioned about the concerns of students who feel unsafe on campus due to the protests, another protester urged them to listen to their demands. The protesters believe that their advocacy is in the best interest of everyone and is driven by a sense of love and mutual benefit.
As of the latest update, there have been no new public announcements on the university's website since Tuesday. The situation remains fluid as negotiations continue between the protesters and university officials.
