Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at Columbia University late Wednesday after activists forced their way into a school library, injuring two public safety officers\u00a0in the process.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire Shipman, the university\u2019s acting president, released a statement saying the school requested New York Police Department (NYPD) officers come to campus after groups of protesters forced their way into Butler Library and were also standing outside the building. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The individuals refused to identify themselves or leave, given multiple warnings they would be charged with trespassing, according to the statement. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRequesting the presence of the NYPD is not the outcome we wanted, but it was absolutely necessary to secure the safety of our community,\u201d Shipman said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDisruptions to our academic activities will not be tolerated and are violations of our rules and policies; 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,\u201d she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Police said at least 80 people were arrested, The Associated Press reported. Videos seen on social media show the protesters hanging up Palestinian flags and drawing \u201cColumbia will burn\u201d into framed pictures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Hill has reached out to the NYPD for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The protests were condemned by New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D), Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and the Trump administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone has the right to peacefully protest. But violence, vandalism or destruction of property are completely unacceptable,\u201d Hochul posted on the social platform X.<\/p>\n
The Trump administration that has been cracking down on pro-Palestinian demonstrators from last year\u2019s spring encampments, taking away student visas and attempting to deport some individuals, as well as going after the schools involved, including Columbia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University\u2019s library. Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation,\u201d Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X.<\/p>\n
The Trump administration has already frozen hundreds of millions of dollars of Columbia’s federal funding, accusing the school of failing to protect its students from antisemitism.<\/p>\n
This is the biggest demonstration Columbia has seen since last year’s encampments. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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