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4d ago

Masked Protesters Occupy Columbia’s Butler Library Ahead of Final Exams

Pro-Palestinian activists demand divestment from Israel and the release of Mahmoud Khalil as university officials warn of arrests and disciplinary action.

A pro-Palestinian protester yells to let students out of the Butler Library on the campus of Columbia University in New York, U.S., May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ryan Murphy
Students are evacuated from the Butler Library as a pro-Palestinian protest takes place at Butler Library on the campus of Columbia University in New York, U.S., May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ryan Murphy
A man faces a member of Columbia University Public Safety through a door during a pro-Palestinian protest at Butler Library on the campus of Columbia University in New York, U.S., May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ryan Murphy
People take part in a pro-Palestinian protest at Butler Library on the campus of Columbia University in New York, U.S., May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ryan Murphy

Overview

  • Dozens of masked protesters stormed Butler Library at Columbia University on Wednesday afternoon, just days before final exams begin.
  • Protesters displayed signs and stickers calling for the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a detained recent graduate, while playing drums and resisting security protocols.
  • University officials warned protesters they must show identification to leave without issue or face arrest, with disciplinary action pending an investigation.
  • The occupation marks an escalation in campus activism that has persisted since April 2024, with similar demands for divestment from Israel and heightened tensions over free expression and academic disruption.
  • Columbia’s administration condemned the disruption, emphasizing the importance of maintaining academic operations during the critical exam period.