2 Columbia safety officers hurt as scores of pro-Palestinian protesters force way into library

Might 7 (UPI) — Two Columbia College Public Security officers have been injured and at the least three folks arrested Wednesday after 100 pro-Palestinian protesters compelled their approach into the New York Metropolis campus’ library in “actions which are outrageous,” the college president mentioned.

Appearing College President Claire Shipman mentioned the officers have been harm throughout a crowd surge.

“The people who disrupted actions in Butler Studying Room 301 nonetheless refuse to determine themselves and go away the constructing,” she said in a statement.

Protesters began peacefully outdoors, the Daily News reported, however then some entered Butler Library’s Studying Room 301 round 3:15 p.m.

Activists sporting masks pushed via safety on the entrance of the library, as proven in videos on social media. One individual pulled a hearth alarm contained in the library.

NBC News shared video of a number of dozen folks pushing up in opposition to New York Police Division barricades simply outdoors the college’s campus at 114th Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue.

No less than three protesters have been taken out of the library by Columbia safety in handcuffs. A fourth individual was on a gurney and put right into a Columbia ambulance.

“Whereas that is remoted to at least one room within the library, it’s fully unacceptable that some people are selecting to disrupt tutorial actions as our college students are learning and making ready for ultimate exams,” the college said in a statement. “These disruptions of our campus and tutorial actions won’t be tolerated. People discovered to be in violation of College Guidelines and insurance policies will face disciplinary penalties.”

Shipman requested for help with NYPD to safe the constructing after the demonstrators refused to determine themselves and go away the constructing.

“As a result of variety of people taking part within the disruption inside and out of doors of the constructing, a big group of individuals making an attempt to power their approach into Butler Library creating a security hazard, and what we consider to be the numerous presence of people not affiliated with the college, Columbia has taken the required step of requesting the presence of NYPD to help in securing the constructing and the security of our neighborhood,” she mentioned.

New York Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement that the NYPD was coming into the campus on the “written request” of the college to take away trespassing people.

NYPD officers had initially stayed off campus.

“As I’ve mentioned repeatedly, New York Metropolis will all the time defend the proper to peaceable protest, however we’ll by no means tolerate lawlessness,” Adams mentioned. “To our Jewish New Yorkers, particularly the scholars at Columbia who really feel threatened or unsafe attending class due to these occasions: Know that your mayor stands with you and can all the time work to maintain you secure.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was briefed on the state of affairs, mentioned in a statement to WABC-TV: “Everybody has the proper to peacefully protest. However violence, vandalism or destruction of property are fully unacceptable.”

Exterior the library, activists performed drums, and folks posted indicators and stickers in search of to free Mahmoud Khalil, a current Columbia grad who has been detained by federal immigration authorities.

This has been the third takeover of a campus constructing this semester.

“Disruptions to our tutorial actions won’t be tolerated and are violations of our guidelines and insurance policies; that is particularly unacceptable whereas our college students examine and put together for ultimate exams,” the college president mentioned. “Columbia strongly condemns violence on our campus, antisemitism and all types of hate and discrimination, a few of which we witnessed at present. We’re resolute that requires violence or hurt haven’t any place at our College. We are going to proceed to maintain our neighborhood apprised because the state of affairs evolves.

In March, the Trump administration in March paused $400 million in federal funding, saying the Ivy League faculty didn’t do sufficient to guard Jewish college students from harassment in the course of the protests.

“As soon as once more, protesters violated many College guidelines and infringed on the rights of Jewish college students to review for exams with out being screamed at and harassed,” Hillel government director Brian Cohen posted on X. “We’re grateful to the general public security officers who, at nice threat to themselves, tried to cease the protesters from storming the library. The College should act rapidly and decisively to self-discipline each pupil concerned in at present’s takeover, and the native authorities should do the identical for non-students concerned.”

Finals start Friday.