Update 1:35pm Eastern. There are several hundred counterprotesters outside the Columbia gates, mostly Jewish organizations and some brave Persian dissidents. I’ve talked to rabbis, young families, students, alumni. Most are livid that Columbia has penned them off campus. There are busloads of kids here, but many older folks are disappointed that the turnout isn’t higher. This may be because lots of people turned out for the anti-Mahmoud rally at the U.N. Organizers expect many of them to head over here.
We’re going to try to do a livestream from the protest. Meantime, a few more photos:
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began his speech at Columbia University by saying that criticism from University President Lee Bollinger was an insult to the audience. Bollinger had told Ahmadinejad he exhibits “all the signs of a petty, cruel dictator.”
Whoa. I hope the numbers improve, cuz that's damn sad. I heard talking heads at Fox this morning predicting as many as 10,000 protestors. Wish I lived closer to NY.