Columbia University, the epicenter of US student protests against the onslaught in Gaza, on Monday canceled its main graduation ceremony, as colleges seek to contain the demonstrations that have rocked campuses for weeks, AFP reports.

But the move has failed to stem anger over US support of Israel amid the mounting Palestinian death toll: fresh protests sprung up in the city Monday evening, including at the university gates, amid a heavy police presence.

Protesters then made their way to demonstrate at the city’s annual Met Gala, a glitzy, high-profile fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Several were arrested, AFP journalists confirmed.

Columbia, where at least 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested last week, cited security concerns as it canceled the graduation ceremony scheduled for May 15, with smaller events planned instead.

But some angry at the decision signed an online petition to overturn it, which had more than 2,300 signatures on Monday evening.

“They have plenty of money… But instead they chose the laziest option possible,” politics student Ally Woodward, 24, told AFP, referring to university leaders.