Chicago – May 08, 2025
On Wednesday, New York police arrested more than 70 pro-Palestinian protesters who occupied part of Butler Library, the main library at Columbia University. The protesters entered the library’s main reading room and refused to leave, disrupting students preparing for final exams, according to acting university President Claire Shipman.
Two university security officers were injured during a crowd surge as protesters forced their way inside. The university described the protesters’ actions as a serious safety risk and a violation of campus policies. The library’s reading room was also defaced during the demonstration.
The New York Police Department responded at Columbia’s request and arrested 78 individuals after they failed to comply with orders to disperse. Two others were issued summonses. Charges are pending, but details about those arrested, including their visa status, have not been disclosed.
Protesters accused the university of “violent repression” on social media and said they refused to show identification to police and campus safety officers. Many protesters were seen wearing keffiyeh scarves and masks, defying a ban imposed by the Trump administration last year following widespread campus demonstrations.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the visa statuses of those involved would be reviewed, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of international students participating in such protests.
Columbia University emphasized its rejection of antisemitism and all forms of harassment and discrimination, condemning the disruption that forced hundreds of students out of their study spaces just days before exams.
