Pro-Palestinian Protesters Arrested at Columbia University
On May 7, 2025, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at Columbia University after staging a demonstration at Butler Library. The protest, organized by the student group Columbia University Apartheid Divest, was intended to protest the university’s alleged ties to Israel and its perceived role in “imperialist violence.”
The demonstrators, seen in social media videos standing on tables and chanting inside the library, called for Columbia to cut its connections with Israel. They renamed the library in honor of Palestinian activist Basel Al-Araj, who was killed by Israeli forces in 2017. The protesters warned that as long as the university profited from what they described as “imperialist violence,” they would continue their disruptions.
Columbia University President Claire Shipman condemned the demonstration as “unacceptable,” stressing that the protest violated university policies, especially during finals week. She also condemned the violence that occurred during the protest, including injuries sustained by two Columbia Public Safety Officers.
The protest culminated in the arrest of around 80 demonstrators by the New York Police Department after they ignored warnings to disperse. This protest is part of a larger movement on U.S. campuses that has seen significant demonstrations against Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
