Columbia University unveils memorial honoring victims of October 7 massacre in US

Columbia University has unveiled a powerful memorial honoring the 1,200 victims of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel, transforming part of its campus into a visual tribute to those who lost their lives.

The installation, organized by pro-Israel nonprofit groups DiploAct and Let’s Do Something, features 1,200 empty seats, each bearing the photo and name of a victim.

The display stretches nearly a mile across the campus, symbolizing the human toll of the massacre that marked one of the darkest days in Israel’s history.

Organizers say the memorial aims to “restore the individual humanity of each victim” amid ongoing global debates over the war in Gaza.

“Each chair represents a life, a story cut short,” a spokesperson for DiploAct said. “This memorial is about remembrance, empathy, and truth.”

Columbia University has been a focal point of campus tensions since the October 7 attacks.

In 2024, an anti-Israel student encampment at the school sparked a nationwide protest movement, culminating in police intervention after demonstrators occupied a university building.

The new memorial, university officials say, is intended to promote reflection and dialogue. It will remain on display through the week as part of a series of events marking the second anniversary of the October 7 tragedy.