Columbia University Students Rebrand Veterans Day to ‘Martyrs Day’ in Protest of the Israel-Hamas Conflict
Activists at Columbia University have decided to rebrand Veterans Day as “Martyr’s Day” in honor of the “martyrs” in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.
The unsanctioned group, Columbia University Apartheid Divest made the decision to rebrand the holiday, citing opposition to the “American war machine” in connection with the ongoing middle eastern conflict. The group distributed fliers condemning Veterans Day, describing it as a celebration of “patriotism, love of country, and sacrifice” for veterans, which they reject.
“Veterans Day is an American holiday to honor the patriotism, love of country, and sacrifice of veterans. We reject this holiday and refuse to celebrate it,” the fliers read.
“The American war machine should not be honored for the horrors unleashed on others. Instead, we will celebrate Martyrs Day in honor of those martyred by the Israel-US war machine. A day to honor the patriotism, love of country, and sacrifice of those martyrs,” the literature continued.
Outraged by the protests, veterans at the university plan a counter-celebration to honor those who served.
“That post really shook the hornet’s nest,” Air Force veteran and Columbia graduate student Sam Nahins told the New York Post.
“They’ve never hid their disdain for veterans. But now it’s really out in the open,” he continued. “Last year, when students and faculty members were running around dressing up as jihadists and screaming ‘Death to America,’ ‘Death to Western civilization,’ death to everything but their cause, I had friends get called infidels, and murderers and baby-killers.”
In a statement to the New York Post on Sunday, Columbia University attempted to downplay the efforts of the pro-Palestine group, saying, “We are aware that a small group has called for a demonstration tomorrow, and our public safety team is monitoring for any disruptions to campus activity. As always, we are committed to preserving our core mission to teach, create, and advance knowledge.”
A University spokesperson added that the Ivy League school “honors its veterans on Veterans Day and every day, and we are proud to be participating in the New York Veterans Day Parade tomorrow, as we have for more than a decade.”
