Particle.news
Download on the App Store
75 ARTICLES
·
17h ago

Columbia University Arrests 80 Protesters After Butler Library Occupation

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators injured two public safety officers and disrupted finals week, prompting NYPD intervention and federal visa reviews.

NEW YORK, US - MAY 7: New York City police arrested dozens of Pro-Palestinian protesters on Columbia University on Wednesday evening after they took over part of a central library in New York, USA on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
People take part in a pro-Palestinian protest at Butler Library on the campus of Columbia University in New York, Wednesday.
Image
Image

Overview

  • Masked protesters forced their way into Butler Library’s Room 301, injuring two Columbia public safety officers during a crowd surge.
  • Columbia University requested NYPD assistance to clear the building, leading to the arrest of over 70 protesters, with some reportedly unaffiliated with the school.
  • The demonstrators renamed the library after Palestinian activist Basel Al-Araj and called for divestment from Israel as part of a broader campaign.
  • Federal authorities, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are reviewing the visa statuses of arrested individuals, with potential deportations for noncitizens.
  • The protest follows earlier federal funding cuts and rising tensions over campus activism, with disciplinary actions now underway against participants.