Columbia University has suspended more than 65 students and barred 33 others, including alumni and students from affiliated institutions, after a pro-Palestinian protest inside the school’s main Butler Library this week forced a major shutdown and prompted a forceful response from both the university and law enforcement officials.
The protest, which took place Wednesday evening, saw mask-clad demonstrators push past campus security, race into the library, and hang Palestinian flags and banners from bookshelves. Protesters also scrawled inflammatory phrases on library furniture and picture frames, including “Columbia will burn.” The demonstration, which lasted several hours, disrupted students preparing for final exams and was described by university officials as an “outrageous” violation of campus rules and academic order.
New York City police, wearing helmets and protective gear, entered the building at the university’s request and arrested roughly 80 individuals, most on trespassing charges, with some also facing disorderly conduct charges. Columbia’s interim suspensions mean that affected students cannot attend classes, participate in university activities, or, in most cases, even enter campus except to access their dormitories.
The university declined to specify how long the suspensions would last, stating only that they are pending further investigation. “When rules are breached and our academic environment is intentionally disrupted, that is a deliberate decision; one that carries significant repercussions,” a Columbia spokesperson said.
The protest was organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest and affiliated groups, who have repeatedly demanded that the university divest its $14.8 billion endowment from companies tied to Israel’s military presence in Palestinian territories. Social media posts from the protest showed demonstrators chanting “Free Palestine,” beating drums, and declaring the library a “Liberated Zone.”
The incident has drawn federal attention. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced his office would review the visa status of international students involved, raising the possibility of deportation for those found to have participated in the illegal occupation. The Trump administration has already pulled federal funding and detained international students at Columbia and other prestigious universities over their handling of similar protests.
This latest episode marks one of the largest and most disruptive pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia since last year’s surge in campus activism over the Gaza conflict, further intensifying the national debate over free speech, campus safety, and the limits of protest in academic institutions.