Columbia student Rudy Rochman (right), counter-demonstrating against an antisemitic activist on campus. Photo: Courtesy.

A Columbia University student told The Algemeiner on Friday that he launched a one-man demonstration against a “Jew-hater and Hitler-lover” parading around the campus gates on Thursday, “to show we will not stand silently for antisemitism.”

Rudy Rochman, a pro-Israel activist, said that he decided to take matters into his own hands when he saw the outsider holding up a poster that said: “Google it!!! Jews financed black slavery.” He said quickly drew up his own banner — reading: “This is what antisemitism looks like” — and held it up alongside the Jew-hating protester until the other person left the premises.

Rochman told The Algemeiner the individual has appeared at Columbia numerous times in the past with antisemitic signs, but that, to his knowledge, this is the first time anyone has counter-protested.

According to the blog IsraellyCool, two New York Police Department officers showed up about an hour after Rochman, but did not take any action. Some time later, more policemen arrived and told the man to leave. After initially refusing, he eventually complied.

This is but one of many incidents of this nature at the university, located in upper Manhattan. According to a campus watchdog report, Columbia ranked first as the school with the largest increase in antisemitic activity between 2015 and 2016.