On Wednesday, New York police arrested many pro-Palestinian protesters after they took over part of the Butler Library at Columbia University. The protestors forced their way into the library, which caused two security officers to be injured.
The protestors, many wearing keffiyeh headscarves and masks, entered the library despite a ban put in place by the Trump administration. Columbia University President Claire Shipman called their actions “outrageous” and asked the police for help. It was also noted that some of the protesters were not students at the university.
The police arrested more than 70 people during the protest. According to the NYPD, they were called to respond to a situation where people were trespassing in the library.
Videos from the protest showed some of the demonstrators writing “free Palestine” on bookshelves. Another video showed public safety officers blocking the library exit, asking those inside to show their Columbia University IDs or face arrest. This led to a standoff that lasted for several hours.
President Shipman said that while the protest only took place in one room of the library, it was unacceptable for the protesters to disrupt students who were studying for exams. She urged students to avoid the library during the situation.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams also spoke out, saying that the city would not tolerate hate or violence in any form.
The protestors claimed that the university had “violently repressed” them and refused to show their IDs to police and campus officers. This protest marks the first time that Columbia University has asked the NYPD to intervene since April 2024, when pro-Palestinian protesters took over Hamilton Hall for almost 24 hours.
Columbia University has faced criticism from former President Donald Trump, who has said that many universities tolerate antisemitism and harassment of Jewish students. Trump has threatened to cut $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University because of these protests.
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In March, Columbia University agreed to some demands from the Trump administration, including banning face masks at protests and changing how some academic programs are overseen. However, it is still unclear whether Columbia will get the federal funding back. Some university faculty members have filed a lawsuit over the funding cuts.
Last year, Columbia University was at the center of protests against the Gaza conflict and U.S. support for Israel. On Tuesday, Trump also stopped $2.2 billion in taxpayer funds to Harvard University after ordering a review of its federal funding. He has warned 60 universities that they may lose funding if allegations of antisemitism are not addressed.
