Overview

• Around 100 pro-Palestine protesters occupied Columbia University's Butler Library to oppose alleged genocide in Gaza.
• Columbia University requested NYPD intervention after protesters refused to leave, citing safety concerns and unauthorized participation by non-students.
• Over 70 individuals were arrested during the police operation, which also resulted in injuries to two campus security officers.
• Interim university president Claire Shipman and New York Mayor Eric Adams defended the police action, emphasizing support for peaceful protests but rejecting unlawful behavior.
• Federal pressures, including potential visa reviews for non-student participants and ongoing funding negotiations, continue to shape Columbia's response to campus activism.