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Columbia’s Acting President Booed at Commencement as Students Demand Mahmoud Khalil’s Release

HeadlineMay 21, 2025
Image Credit: Columbia University

Here in New York, Columbia University’s acting President Claire Shipman was met with loud boos and chants of “Free Mahmoud” as she walked up to the stage during a graduation ceremony Tuesday.

Announcer: “Please welcome the acting president of Columbia University, Claire Shipman.”

Crowd: “Boo!”

Claire Shipman: “The work of your generation will be to shape these interesting times, to define the values” —

Crowd: “Free Mahmoud! Free Mahmoud! Free Mahmoud! Free Mahmoud!”

The peaceful protest was in reference to Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, who remains in ICE detention after being taken from his apartment near campus by federal agents in March.

Meanwhile, newly released surveillance footage from Columbia shows Khalil complied and cooperated with the officers after they illegally entered his private Columbia-owned apartment building without a warrant. The footage contradicts claims by Trump officials who said Khalil attempted to flee. Khalil is scheduled to appear in immigration court tomorrow in Jena, Louisiana, where he remains behind bars. Click here see our coverage of this story.

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