A Week Later, Still No Arrests In Possible Hate Crime At Columbia University

One full week after pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University reported a suspected chemical attack during an on-campus protest, no arrests have been made in the incident.

Police have said they’re investigating at least six reports related to the incident, which activists believe was a deployment of “ skunk ,” a foul-smelling crowd control chemical spray often used by Israeli police and military forces in Palestinian neighborhoods. The smell of the chemical has been compared to raw sewage and decaying meat, and it’s known to permeate clothing and other surfaces.

The suspected chemical attack last Friday led to numerous hospitalizations and reports of nausea, vomiting and dizziness, according to organizers.

The incident has sent shockwaves through Columbia’s campus over the past week.

After a protest advocating for divestment from Israel that included the groups Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine — both of which were suspended by Columbia last year — numerous participants realized that they’d all experienced a similarly foul smell and corresponding physical symptoms at the protest.

Palestinian protesters at the university said after the demonstration that they recognized the smell from its use in the West Bank.

Up to 10 protest participants were hospitalized in subsequent days, Maryam Alwan, a leader in Columbia’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, told HuffPost. Alwan described students’ frustration at what they felt was a hostile atmosphere toward criticism of Israel on campus.

“We do not feel protected by the school. We do not trust the school,” she said. “They haven’t really done anything about hundreds of reports of unrelenting harassment for months now.”

Organizers