Misspelled protest message from Canadian university, not Colombia

Social media users are mocking pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University by claiming a misspelled message appeared on the Ivy League campus in New York. But the image comes from the University of Ottawa, where a student media outlet reported that someone spray-painted the words “Free Palastine” on the steps of a building.

“Keep in mind….a Columbia University education can cost up to $90,000 per year…..In their defense, the steps do not come with a spill chucker…er….spell check,” states a May 7, 2024 article on Threads.

The same image spread on X, where a user commented: “Wait. Columbia kids spelled “Palestine” wrong? »

Another user underlines that an uncropped version of the photo appears in the music video for Macklemore’s new song “Hind’s Hall,” which praises student protesters.

The claims come after Columbia, one of eight Ivy League universities and the epicenter of US student protests against Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip, canceled its graduation ceremony as part of efforts to to contain the unrest that has been shaking campuses for weeks. At least 100 protesters were arrested on the New York campus.

However, the image shared online is not from Columbia University.

THE Fulcrum, a student press organization at the University of Ottawa, posted a photo of the same graffiti on May 1 on X (archived here).

“The steps in front of Tabaret Hall were spray-painted by a protester, who was then chased by security. Witnesses tell the Fulcrum that the individual was picked up by a waiting vehicle,” the outlet reported.

The Fulcrum published a longer description of the event and the camp at the school in the Canadian capital on May 4.

AFP geolocated picture at Tabaret Pavilion, which houses the administrative offices of the University of Ottawa. Images from Google Maps and the school’s website show the structure is the same as in the photos. sharing online (archived here and here).

AFP verified other distorted visuals regarding pro-Palestinian campus protests here, here and here.