Pro-Palestinian Protesters Arrested at Columbia University Library

Columbia University Library Occupation

• 🚨 Pro-Palestinian protesters occupied Columbia University's main library, Butler Library, on Wednesday.
• 💡 The occupation, called an "emergency rally" by the student protest group Columbia University Apartheid Divest, forced students studying for finals to leave.
• ⚠️ Slogans such as "Columbia will burn" and "Learn from Palestine" were reportedly defaced on library shelves and displays.

Arrests and University Response

• 👮 The NYPD arrested at least 80 protesters following the library takeover.
• 🗣️ Columbia University's acting president, Claire Shipman, condemned violence, anti-semitism, and all forms of hate and discrimination.
• ⚖️ The university stated that students who broke rules would face disciplinary actions, and that some protesters may not be affiliated with the university.
• 🤕 Two university public safety officers were injured during the incident.

Context and Aftermath

• 🗓️ The protest occurred just hours after a congressional hearing on anti-semitism on college campuses.
• 🏫 The situation was described as a stark contrast to the calm seen on campus during the day, and reminiscent of protests from the previous year.
• 🚶 Demonstrations later moved to the streets, involving a standoff with police and protesters breaking through a barricade.