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yesterday

Columbia University Reopens Library After Protester Occupation Leads to Arrests

Over 70 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were detained following a disruptive library takeover that injured two campus officers and prompted 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.
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Overview

  • Pro-Palestinian protesters forcibly entered Columbia University's Butler Library on May 7, declaring it a 'liberated zone' and disrupting final exam preparations.
  • The university called in the NYPD after two public safety officers were injured during a crowd surge as protesters pushed past security.
  • Police arrested more than 70 individuals, some of whom were reportedly unaffiliated with Columbia, for trespassing and refusing to comply with dispersal orders.
  • Acting President Claire Shipman condemned the protest as a violation of university policies and announced disciplinary actions against involved students.
  • Federal authorities, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are reviewing the visa statuses of arrested individuals, signaling potential deportations for non-citizen participants.