Columbia Group Tweets ‘Death to America’ — Shock Hits Campus

Adriana Stone 0 2 min read

Columbia Group Tweets ‘Death to America’ — Shock Hits Campus

An unofficial Columbia University student coalition posted a chilling phrase on X this weekend: “marg bar amrika,” the Farsi chant that translates to “Death to America.” The post came after reports that Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in joint U.S.-Israeli air strikes.

The post set off immediate backlash. Critics called it extreme. Some demanded the university lose federal funding. Others warned it showed a disturbing tolerance for violent rhetoric on campus.

Here is one reaction that circulated on X:

BREAKING: Columbia University pro-Palestinian student group posts “Death to America” in Farsi.
Not a single dime of American taxpayer dollars should go to this university. pic.twitter.com/Q78hkr3ReC
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) March 1, 2026

The student coalition, which calls itself Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), later said X made them delete the post. They also said they still agreed with the message.

“X forced us to delete our “marg bar amrika” tweet in order to gain back access to our account but the sentiment still stands”

— CU Apartheid Divest (CUAD) (@ColumbiaBDS) March 1, 2026

The group also posted a message mourning Khamenei and framing the strike as an act of “zionist warfare.” That too was shared on X.

“Devastating news. Our hearts are with the Iranian people. Iran has every right to defend itself against zionist warfare.”

— CU Apartheid Divest (CUAD) (@ColumbiaBDS) March 1, 2026

CUAD added a disclaimer stressing it is not an official university group and operates outside Columbia’s recognized student organizations.

“Friendly reminder that CUAD has no affiliation to or ties with the fascist state functionary known as Columbia University. We operate completely outside of the purview of a registered student organization and are proud to not receive any recognition from that institution.”

— CU Apartheid Divest (CUAD) (@ColumbiaBDS) March 1, 2026

Who is CUAD? They describe themselves as a coalition pushing for divestment from companies tied to Israel and demanding an academic and financial split. Their stated goals include campus divestment, academic boycotts of Israeli institutions, opposition to Columbia expansion in Harlem, and calls to defund campus policing. The group draws lines between Palestinian solidarity and past divestment movements.

The post and the reaction raise a few hard questions. Where does free speech end and violent rhetoric begin? What role should universities play when student groups use inflammatory language? And what, if any, federal or university consequences should follow when a campus-affiliated group calls for violence or celebrates the death of a foreign leader?

Columbia’s name has now been dragged into a debate that mixes international violence, campus politics, and free-speech fights. Officials and lawmakers on both sides will likely press the university for answers. For many critics, the tweet is more than rhetoric. It’s evidence, they say, of a deeper problem on elite campuses where controversial stances are tolerated — even amplified.

The story is still developing. Expect more statements, more pressure campaigns, and likely more headlines.

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