Thu May 08 04:10:18 UTC 2025: ## Pro-Palestinian Protest at Columbia University Ends in Mass Arrests

**New York, NY –** A pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University’s Butler Library escalated Wednesday evening, resulting in dozens of arrests after protesters refused to leave the building. The demonstration, which involved hanging Palestinian flags and banners, and allegedly vandalizing library property, prompted a significant police response.

According to Columbia University’s acting president, Claire Shipman, protesters who had occupied a reading room were repeatedly asked to identify themselves and leave but refused. The university then called in the NYPD to remove the protesters, resulting in over 30 arrests. Videos circulating on social media show officers escorting individuals away in handcuffs.

The protest, organized by the student group Columbia University Apartheid Divest, was reportedly in response to the university’s alleged profiting from “imperialist violence.” The group stated that repression would only breed further resistance.

The incident has drawn strong reactions from city and state officials. New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that the police were acting to remove trespassers, while Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the violence and property damage. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department is reviewing the visa status of those involved.

The protest comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a recent federal hate crime indictment against Tarek Bazrouk, a man repeatedly arrested at pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Bazrouk’s arrest followed a series of policy changes at Columbia University related to protests, including a ban on masks and a requirement for protesters to present identification. These changes were implemented following threats from the Trump administration to revoke federal funding. The university’s response to Wednesday’s protest underscores the ongoing debate surrounding free speech, campus protests, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the United States.

Read More