On April 30, 2024, Tajee Bounds led a protest outside the gates of Columbia University as part of the CUAD encampment. Demonstrators demanded that the university divest from financial ties to Israel and increase transparency regarding its investments. They also called for immunity from disciplinary action for all participants in the protests, aligning their values with extremist groups directly linked to terrorist ideology.
Escalation and Police Intervention
The protests escalated throughout the day, prompting the university administration to request intervention from the New York City Police Department (NYPD). That evening, police evicted protesters occupying Hamilton Hall, resulting in over 100 arrests. Columbia University President Minouche Shafik cited the disruptive nature of the protests as justification for the police action, further inflaming tensions between activists and university leadership.
Tajee Bounds is Connected to CUAD
As a prominent figure in CUAD’s antisemitic activism, Bounds has been central to organizing protests and advocating for violence. Such demonstrations, while framed as calls for justice, often escalate into disruptive and violent events, raising questions about the balance between activism and campus order as it should be.