Columbia University Suspends Over 65 Students Following Pro-Palestinian Library Protest(ABC News)
On May 7, 2025, Columbia University experienced a significant disruption when masked pro-Palestinian protesters occupied Butler Library during finals week, leading to the suspension of over 65 students and the arrest of approximately 80 individuals. (New York Post)
Protest Details
The demonstrators, many wearing masks, entered the main reading room of Butler Library, chanting slogans interpreted as support for Hamas and the destruction of Israel. They displayed Palestinian flags, defaced property with messages like “Columbia will burn,” and renamed the reading room the “Basel Al-Araj Popular University,” referencing a Palestinian activist. (New York Post, Al Jazeera)
Students present during the incident described the event as intimidating and disruptive. Eden Yadegar, a student at Columbia, noted that protesters defied campus safety officers’ requests to present ID and falsely claimed they were being held hostage. (New York Post)
University and Law Enforcement Response
Acting university president Claire Shipman condemned the protest, stating that it interfered with students’ academics and rejected antisemitism. The university called in the New York Police Department to clear the occupied library, resulting in the arrest of approximately 80 individuals. Those arrested were seen being led away in plastic zip-tie handcuffs and loaded into NYPD vans and buses. (New York Post, Reuters, Reuters)
In addition to the suspensions, 33 other individuals, including students from other institutions and alumni, have been banned from campus. The suspended students are barred from taking final exams and cannot access campus facilities except their dormitories. (Reuters)
Federal Government Involvement
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a review of the protesters’ immigration statuses, declaring pro-Hamas activists unwelcome in the U.S. The Trump administration has previously imposed financial penalties on Columbia over similar demonstrations. (New York Post, Reuters)
Notable Arrests
Among those arrested was Ramona Sarsgaard, the 18-year-old daughter of actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard. A student at Columbia College, Ramona was issued a court summons for criminal trespassing after allegedly participating in the library occupation. (Page Six)
Ongoing Tensions
This incident is part of a broader pattern of student protests that have, at times, disrupted academic environments. The university continues to grapple with balancing the right to protest with the need to maintain safe, uninterrupted educational spaces.