Demonstration advocating for Palestine unfolds at Columbia University library, leading to arrests by law enforcement
Going Gaga for Palestine: Chaos at Columbia University
Pack the library, beat the drums, display support for Palestine – that's exactly what happened at Columbia University's Butler Library on May 7, 2025. In a scene reminiscent of a pro-Palestinian student protest movement, demonstrators took over the reading room, ignoring requests from university officials to vacate the premises.
Videos and photos shared on social media depicted protesters, adorned in masks, bearing banners proclaiming "Strike For Gaza" and "Liberated Zone," all under the elegant chandeliers of the Lawrence A. Wein Reading Room. Tensions rose as campus security requested identification from students and ordered the protesters to disperse. Those who refused faced potential disciplinary action and "possible arrest," according to the school statement.
Security escorted several participants out of the building and into the hands of police outside, but it's unclear if they were formally taken into custody. Amidst the chaos, some attendees pushed and shoved as public safety staff attempted to maintain order. One student organization claimed that school officials had assaulted protesters and that the activists refused to show their IDs due to fear of militarized arrest.
As the situation unfolded, New York City Mayor Eric Adams dispatched NYPD officers to the campus following requests for assistance from university officials. The mayor condemned the lawlessness but expressed support for peaceful protests.
Getting Political
One student group, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, has resurfaced long-standing demands for the university to divest its $14.8 billion endowment from companies supporting Israel's military occupation of Palestinian territories. They see this as a means to stop funding weapons manufacturers and companies fueling the violence in the region.
Former President Trump labeled these pro-Palestinian student protests as antisemitic and anti-American, while student organizers reject the allegation that their activism equates to antisemitism. Last year, Columbia was at the forefront of a pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel student protest movement on U.S. campuses, reflecting growing unrest concerning Israel's war in Gaza.
The Trump administration has taken a harder stance against international pro-Palestinian students, questioning their visa status and linking their activism to alleged antisemitism on campuses. In an extreme measure, they’ve even attempted to deport certain students, claiming their presence could jeopardize U.S. foreign policy interests.
Furthermore, protesters also demanded the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia graduate student, who remains in a Louisiana immigrants' jail following his arrest during earlier protests.
Putting the Federal Foot Down
The State Department has launched a review of the visa status of pro-Palestinian protesters involved in the library occupation, and the Trump administration is considering withholding federal funding from universities deemed lackadaisical in combating antisemitism. Initiatives such as "Project Esther" seek to employ anti-terrorism and immigration laws to thwart campus protests, likening pro-Palestinian activism to supporting Hamas operations.
Sources:
- Pro-Palestinian protests erupt at Columbia University
- Pro-Palestine Protests Turn Violent at Columbia University
- In Video: Violence Erupts as Pro-Palestinian Protests Go Awry at Columbia University
- Trump administration targets pro-Palestinian protesters with visa review, funding cuts, and anti-terrorism laws
- The chaos at Columbia University's Butler Library on May 7, 2025, was a part of a pro-Palestinian student protest movement, reminiscent of previous events, as demonstrated by the 'protests' taking place.
- These protests, under the general news headlines, involved demonstrators occupying the Lawrence A. Wein Reading Room on campus, displaying banners like "Strike For Gaza" and "Liberated Zone," as per Reuters reports.
- The ensuing events, which saw potential arrests and allegations of assault by student organizers, have raised concerns about harm to students and questions about campus policies and legislation regarding free speech and protest, becoming a topic of political debate.
- The Trump administration, in response to such protests, has considered withholding federal funding from universities and employing anti-terrorism and immigration laws to combat pro-Palestinian activism, affecting the endowment and visa status of students, as per policy-and-legislation updates.
