New York City's streets are buzzing with debate after pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University led to hundreds of student arrests last week. 🌆 CGTN spoke to locals to gauge reactions – and the results are as diverse as the city itself.
💬 Adina Cohen, a bookstore worker, told reporters: 'I care about Palestinian lives, but protesting disrupts education. There has to be a better way.' Meanwhile, tech consultant Susan Chandly fired back: 'Students are the conscience of our society. Their right to protest is non-negotiable!'
From coffee shops to subway platforms, conversations reveal generational divides. Older residents often cite safety concerns, while younger New Yorkers compare the movement to historic campus activism. 📚 One college grad quipped: 'This is Gen Z's Vietnam moment – but with TikTok livestreams instead of flower crowns.'
