CThe University of Olembia has once again found the epicenture of the Palestinian campus protests after taking over the general library of the protesters on Wednesday.
The New York police stepped in, arresting several people with protests, and officials, including mayor and governor, as well as members of the Trump administration, have addressed the situation that continues.
Here's what to know.
How did the protest start?
The protests that broke out the days before the exams began on May 7 at around 3:15 pm, Student Newspaper Columbia's daily spectator reported.
About 100 demonstrators entered the Butler Library's reading room 301 and hung the liberated zone strip, which was similar to strip ads posted during the Palestinian University camps last year. Videos social media They showed the passengers, many of whom wore Keffihehs and masks, singing “Free Palestine”. Photos It seems that protesters also scribbled messages on the desks.
A Non -mail It seemed to be from the Apartheid University of Columbia University Coalition, which supports the Palestinian goal of the Palestinian goal, said that protesters called the Library “Basel Al-Araja Popular University” after Palestinian activist and writer who died in 2017.
“The flood shows that as long as Columbia funds and profits of imperialist violence, people continue to disturb the profits and legitimacy of Columbia,” the unstable post added, repeating the calls to surrender the university from companies related to Israeli business associations.
How has the university authorities react?
University gave out a statement Immediately after the outbreak of the protest, saying that the Columbia public security team responded to disorders. Individuals were asked to identify and warn that arrest could cause arrest.
Video In social media shows protesters leave the room.
President Claire Shipman said in a follow -up statement The fact that the university applied for the presence of the New York police to ensure a disturbance in the reading room to secure the Butler Library 301. “These operations are outrageous,” he said.
The shipman said they were seeking NYPD assistance “thanks to the fact that there is a large group of people trying to push their way into the Butler's library, creating a danger of safety and what we think is a significant presence of individuals that are not related to the university.
How did the law enforcement responded?
NYPD did not only participate in hours later. “According to the direct request of Columbia University X Immediately after 7pm
Its Columbia's daily spectator They announced that around this time NYPD officers entered the library, including members of the strategic response group. The video posted Delivery of Apartheid University at Columbia University He showed the protesters singing, “We have nothing to lose when our chains.”
Videos forward social media NYPD showed protesters out of the library. About 75 people were arrested according to Columbia's daily spectatorAlthough the NYPD did not confirm the total number of arrest.
What have officials say?
New York Mayor Eric Adams said in the year statement: “New York City always defends the right to a peaceful protest, but we will never tolerate a violation of the law.” The mayor also asked the parents of the students to make it clear to their children that violation of the law was wrong.
Adams warned those who are involved in demonstrations who are not Columbia students to “leave the campus right away, or you will be arrested. We do not tolerate hate or violence in our city.”
New York governor Kathy Hochul also Posted to XSaying that he had been informed of the situation in Columbia, adding: “Everyone has the right to protest peacefully. But violence, vandalism or destruction of property is completely unacceptable.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted XL: “Let's review a visa of transmissions and vandals that have taken over the Columbia University Library. In recent months, the Trump Administration has been the case last year in Palestinian protests against many participants, including Mahmoud Khalil, who recently completed Columbia.
What is the history of Columbia University with students' protests?
Columbia was in the focus of protests in Palestinian protests in the university campuses of the US college, starting with the first major Palestinian campus camp on April 17, 2024 in its Morningside campus. The barricists then barricaded the university Hamilton Hall and called it to be called “Price's Gray” after a child who was killed during the Israeli military attack in Gaza.
Historically, Columbia was the famous place of Vietnam's military and civil rights protests in 1968. Like in 2024, the students took over the Hamilton Hall and intervened in the New York police. The protests of 1968 have been made archives and exhibits recognizing how they designed campus activism and national policies in the US
How has the Trump administration and the university hit protests?
The university has taken several steps to try to avoid similar cases – after the pressure of the Trump administration.
In March Columbia said that Gave a wide range of sanctions to the students who participated in the 2024 protests, including “perennial suspension, temporary annulment and expulsion”.
The same month, Columbia announced A series of counter -protests including recruitment of specialists allowed for arrest, imposing restrictions on protests, restricting the use of a face mask and receiving A the official definition of anti -Semitism This must be responsible for the children's discriminatory action.
The measures came after the Trump Administration announced Cancellation of about $ 400 million in Federal grants and contracts for Columbia. Some critics have held many new policies for the university to the Trump administration.
