80 arrested as pro-Palestinian protesters storm Columbia University library

At least 80 people were arrested Wednesday evening after a group of mask-clad pro-Palestinian demonstrators stormed Columbia University’s Butler Library and occupied a reading room, escalating ongoing campus tensions over the Gaza conflict, as per reports and videos posted on social media.

The protest began around 3 pm local time when demonstrators, many wearing keffiyehs and masks, entered the ornate Lawrence A Wein Reading Room on the library’s second floor. Videos circulating on social media showed protesters standing on tables, beating drums, and unfurling banners that read ‘Strike For Gaza’ and ‘Liberated Zone’. Palestinian flags were draped over bookshelves, and slogans such as ‘Columbia will burn’ were reportedly scrawled on framed photographs. 

University officials said the demonstrators were repeatedly asked to show identification and leave the premises but refused. Acting President Claire Shipman confirmed in a statement that two public safety officers were injured during the protest and described the incident as ‘outrageous’, especially during final exam preparations.

Following the refusal to vacate, the university called in the New York Police Department to clear the space. Helmeted officers were later seen entering the building and removing protesters, while campus security blocked additional demonstrators from entering, leading to physical confrontations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the demonstrators ‘pro-Hamas thugs’ and announced a review of their visa statuses. “They are no longer welcome in our great nation,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The crackdown follows a broader Trump administration initiative targeting international students involved in pro-Palestinian activism. In March, Columbia detained scholar Mahmoud Khalil, a legal US resident, over his participation in protests.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department announced hate-crime charges against 20-year-old Tarek Bazrouk, linked to repeated assaults on Jewish individuals during previous demonstrations.

Columbia recently introduced new protest regulations, including bans on face coverings and mandatory ID checks, as tensions continue to rise.