At least 2 injured in Columbia University protest, NYPD takes dozens into custody

[ad_1] New York Metropolis Cops took dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators into custody at Columbia College's Butler Library on Wednesday night.

NYPD officers had been seen eradicating about 76 protesters from the library in handcuffs, putting them in a van and taking them away. It's unclear what number of are dealing with costs.

Columbia officers stated two public security officers had been injured in an encounter with demonstrators. It is unknown presently if there have been some other accidents.

In a assertion, NYC Mayor Eric Adams stated the NYPD was requested by Columbia to take away trespassers.

Gov. Kathy Hochul stated in a put up on social media that she has been briefed on the state of affairs and is "grateful to public security officers for holding college students secure."

"Everybody has the suitable to peacefully protest. However violence, vandalism or destruction of property are fully unacceptable," she wrote.

What occurred at Columbia's Butler Library The beginning of the incident was captured on video, which reveals protesters storming the library Wednesday afternoon, occupying one of many constructing's rooms and vandalizing property.

"We noticed that they had been making ready for one thing. They got here from completely different sides of campus, so it seemed like they'd positively deliberate it earlier than and orchestrated it earlier than," scholar Franziska Sittig stated.

A college spokesperson stated the varsity's public security group shortly responded. In line with the college, protesters had been requested to point out their IDs and disperse. The college stated protesters' identification "will likely be recorded."

By early night, nonetheless, no protesters had chosen to determine themselves and go away, the college stated. Protesters had been informed failure to conform might lead to arrests, the varsity stated, although different individuals who had been within the library however not concerned within the protest had been allowed to depart.

Professional-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with Columbia College public security officers after occupying a part of the primary library on campus on Could 7, 2025. X consumer edenyadegar

A short while later, first responders had been seen taking somebody out of the library on a stretcher, and a fireplace alarm was heard going off within the constructing.

As a standoff ensued inside, a big crowd of protesters gathered outdoors the library, apparently making an attempt to push their means into the constructing.

Appearing Columbia College President Claire Shipman stated two Columbia public security officers had been injured "throughout a crowd surge when people tried to power their means into the constructing and into Room 301."

Demonstrations additionally grew on the outskirts of campus, the place protesters clashed with a rising police presence, pushing barricades and shutting down the block.

A scholar group posted a message from who they name scholar actionists contained in the library, studying partly, "Public Security officers have choked and crushed us. However we have now not wavered. We refuse to point out our IDs beneath militarized arrest. We refuse to go down quietly."

Columbia College requested assist from the New York Metropolis Police Division to clear pro-Palestinian demonstrators out of the campus library on Could 7, 2025. CBS Information New York

Round 7 p.m., three hours after the occupation started, Shipman launched an announcement saying the college had requested the NYPD's assist.

"Because of the variety of people collaborating within the disruption inside and outdoors of the constructing, a big group of individuals trying to power their means 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 mandatory step of requesting the presence of NYPD to help in securing the constructing and the security of our group," she wrote, partly.

She added, "Requesting the presence of the NYPD will not be the result we wished, nevertheless it was completely essential to safe the security of our group."

Whereas the NYPD had been seen eradicating dozens of individuals, it wasn't instantly clear what number of of them have been formally arrested or are dealing with costs.

In line with the college's web site, visitors of scholars and non-faculty workers is not going to be granted entry to Columbia's campus Thursday. Identical-day alumni entry can be suspended, and college IDs will likely be required to entry buildings on the Morningside campus.

"A really small minority of scholars has as soon as once more managed to disrupt all the campus," Sittig stated.

Professional-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia College The protests occurred whereas the varsity is in a pre-final exams studying week.

"Whereas that is remoted to at least one room within the library, it's fully unacceptable that some people are selecting to disrupt educational actions as our college students are learning and making ready for remaining exams. These disruptions of our campus and educational actions is not going to be tolerated. People discovered to be in violation of College Guidelines and insurance policies will face disciplinary penalties. We ask our group members to please keep away from the rapid space close to Butler Library within the close to time period," a college spokesperson stated, partly.

Scholar Eden Yadegar was learning for exams within the library when the protesters arrived and was surprised by their actions.

"Abruptly, I used to be strolling by means of the foyer and a bunch of some dozen who I'd assume are college students, lined in masks and hoodies and whatnot, stormed by means of the doorway, type of shoving some public security officers and ran upstairs into what's like the primary studying room," she stated. "They had been hanging up banners all all through the room, together with one which pictured the state of Israel and stated, 'There is just one state,' one thing like that, and general simply inflicting a disturbance."

A latest Columbia guideline states , "People who interact in protests or demonstrations who put on face masks or face coverings should current their College identification when requested." The rule of thumb was introduced as a part of the brand new insurance policies enacted beneath the Trump administration's calls for .

Columbia College has been within the crosshairs of the Trump administration within the wake of final yr's pro-Palestinian campus protests, threatening to withhold lots of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in federal funding if sure modifications weren't applied on the college. Two outstanding scholar activists had been additionally arrested by federal immigration authorities, Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi .

Mayor Adams on Columbia protests Mayor Eric Adams posted this assertion on social media:

"On the written request of Columbia College, the NYPD is getting into the campus to take away people who're trespassing.

"As I've stated repeatedly, New York Metropolis will at all times defend the suitable to peaceable protest, however we'll by no means tolerate lawlessness. 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 at all times work to maintain you secure.

"To oldsters of scholars protesting: name your kids and clarify that breaking the legislation is mistaken and they need to exit the constructing instantly. To these protesting on campus who don't attend Columbia: exit the campus instantly or you can be arrested. We is not going to tolerate hate or violence in any kind in our metropolis."

Extra from CBS Information

Ali Bauman

<img src="https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2023/04/21/7a439728-51e8-41c6-ae8b-15da574aecf9/thumbnail/80x80/5fc080dc1e0889355768bbdcc237da88/ali-bauman-big-2023.png?v=e61856d8e666e7ed5709adc37bb2d465#" alt="ali-bauman-big-2023.png " height="80" width="80" class=" lazyload" srcset="https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2023/04/21/7a439728-51e8-41c6-ae8b-15da574aecf9/thumbnail/80x80/5fc080dc1e0889355768bbdcc237da88/ali-bauman-big-2023.png?v=e61856d8e666e7ed5709adc37bb2d465 1x" loading="lazy"/> Ali Bauman is a New York Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist who has been a common task reporter for CBS Information New York since spring 2016.