Fox 5 New York, via YouTubeCredit: (Screenshot), Fox 5 New York, via YouTube
Police responded Wednesday to a request for help from Columbia University after a large group of pro-Palestinian protesters forcibly entered a campus library and declared it a “liberation zone.”
The New York Police Department made 80 arrests, but no charges had been brought as of early Thursday morning, NYPD told The Daily Signal.
“I hope they will face serious consequences for their unlawful actions,” Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said of the protesters in a post on X.
According to Columbia, a significant number of those who took part in the library takeover are believed to be “not affiliated with the University.”
“The anti-Israel movement has metastasized into street thuggery since the Oct. 7 massacre, and the campuses are the epicenter,” Bill Jacobson, founder and publisher of Legal Insurrection and a law professor at Cornell Law School, told The Daily Signal.
“It is not surprising that violent non-student groups also have flocked to campuses, where they find a receptive environment,” Jacobson added. “Columbia, with its long history of anti-Israel activism by students, faculty, and administrators is a logical magnet for the worst elements in our society. The Trump administration is asking a question many Americans are asking: ‘Why are we funding this?’”
Related: Anti-Israel Protesters Tear Down US Flags, Burn Them, Raise Palestinian Flags Blocks From Capitol
The Trump administration cut $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University in March, citing incidents of antisemitism as the reason.
Video of the incident shows a large, masked crowd forcing its way past a security officer and into Butler Library. Once inside, the group hangs signs and banners reading “liberated zone,” and “Free Mahmoud Khalil.” In March, the Trump administration arrested Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student, green card holder, and pro-Palestinian activist, and is seeking to deport him.
Inside the library, the group pounded on drums and shouted, “free Palestine,” and called for a “global intifada.”
Protesters penned graffiti inside the library, writing “learn from Palestine,” and “CU U will see,” “CU” standing for Columbia University.
Hours after the takeover began, police escorted the protesters, hands zip tied behind their backs, out of the library.
“Disruptions to our academic activities will not be tolerated and are violations of our rules and policies,” Columbia said in a statement following the incident, adding, “this is especially unacceptable while our students study and prepare for final exams.”
“Columbia strongly condemns violence on our campus, antisemitism and all forms of hate and discrimination, some of which we witnessed today,” the university said. “We are resolute that calls for violence or harm have no place at our university.”
Two Columbia Public Safety Officers were injured during the protest, according to the university.
Mass pro-Palestinian protests and an encampment broke out on the campus of Columbia University campus last spring. The anti-Israel demonstrations on campus ultimately led to Minouche Shafik resigning from her position as president of the university.
Syndicated with permission from The Daily Signal.