New York City, NY – An anti-Israel occupation of Columbia University’s Butler Library escalated into a significant law enforcement operation on Wednesday, resulting in injuries to two campus officers, over 80 arrests, and federal immigration authorities reviewing the visa statuses of those detained.
The incident began shortly after noon when more than 100 masked demonstrators pushed past university security to enter the historic library, where students were preparing for final exams. Protesters demanded university divestment from Israeli-linked companies, and declared the space a “Liberation Zone.”
Columbia Public Safety officers attempted to contain the disruption, but a surge of people trying to enter Room 301 resulted in injuries to two campus police officers. Acting university president Claire Shipman stated, “These actions are outrageous. Individuals participating in the Reading Room 301 disruption were repeatedly asked for identification and to leave… Requesting the presence of the NYPD is not the outcome we wanted, but it was absolutely necessary to secure the safety of our community.”
The university officially requested assistance from the NYPD mid-afternoon. Officers entered the library, zip-tying and detaining protesters. A university spokesperson confirmed that more than 80 individuals were arrested due to the occupation and disruption they caused, and all are currently believed to be Columbia students.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reviewing the identities of those arrested to determine whether any are foreign nationals. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added, “We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library. Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.”
Protesters renamed the Butler Library the “Basel Al-Araj Popular University,” referencing a Palestinian terrorist killed in a 2017 shootout with Israeli police who were attempting to arrest him for planning a terrorist attack. Flyers and graffiti found inside the library also included slogans supporting Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia graduate student who was arrested by ICE last month and had his green card and student visa revoked.
This week’s disruption follows a year of intensifying campus activism – including harassment and violence against Jewish students – and administrative turmoil. In March, former university president Minouche Shafik stepped down amid criticism over her handling of anti-Israel demonstrations and a sharp rise in reported antisemitic incidents. That same month, the Trump administration cut $400 million in federal grants to Columbia, citing the school’s “failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment.” The university has since announced potential layoffs affecting nearly 180 staff members.
Columbia emphasized in a new statement that it supports free expression but will not permit violations of university rules: “These disruptions of our campus and academic activities will not be tolerated. Individuals found to be in violation of University Rules and policies will face disciplinary consequences. We ask our community members to please avoid the immediate area near Butler Library in the near term.”
For now, the Butler Library has been cleared and reopened under heightened security. However, tensions remain high as the university community braces for what could be a turbulent close to the academic year.
