Columbia Students Arrested in Gaza Protest at Butler Library

Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists were arrested by the New York Police Department (NYPD) on Wednesday evening after occupying a section of Butler Library on Columbia University’s campus.

The protest, which organizers called a “Gaza solidarity protest”, reignited tensions on campus nearly a year after widespread anti-war demonstrations swept the Ivy League institution.

The student-led action was organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), which shared videos of the event showing NYPD officers in riot gear entering the reading room as students locked arms and chanted: “We have nothing to lose but our chains!”

Students rename library after Basel al-Araj

Protesters renamed the space the “Bassel al-Araj Popular University” in honor of the Palestinian intellectual and resistance figure. Participants stood on desks, used bullhorns to voice their demands, and unfurled a banner that read “strike for Gaza”. Also, Pamphlets were distributed urging Columbia University to divest from businesses and funds profiting from “Israel’s” ongoing invasion of Gaza.

“We will not be useless intellectuals,” read a CUAD statement published online, “Palestine is our compass, and we stand strong in the face of violent oppression.”

According to Claire Shipman, the university’s acting president, NYPD officers were called after protesters refused repeated warnings to vacate the building. Shipman stated that the request for police presence was “not the outcome we wanted, but it was absolutely necessary to secure the safety of our community.”

The NYPD confirmed the arrest of “multiple individuals” who refused to leave the premises. Footage circulated online showed protesters, zip-tied and escorted by officers, being placed onto NYPD buses. The Columbia Daily Spectator reported that approximately 75 individuals were detained.

Before police involvement, Columbia’s campus security attempted to disperse the protestors. The university reported injuries to two public safety officers during the incident, while demonstrators claimed they were kettled and blocked from exiting.

At 6 pm EST, an alert was sent out announcing the closure of Butler Library and instructing students to clear the area.

Political backlash and visa threats against activists

New York Mayor Eric Adams denounced the protest as “unacceptable”, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed gratitude to law enforcement, while emphasizing that vandalism and property damage would not be tolerated.

Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, escalated the rhetoric by stating on X that officials were reviewing the visa status of student demonstrators. “Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation,” he said.

Among those targeted in recent months are Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian green-card holder and Columbia student detained for his activism, and Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia graduate who remains in custody following his March arrest.

Following the protests last year, the Trump administration withdrew $400 million in federal research funding from Columbia, citing the university’s alleged failure to “address antisemitism.”

To comply with federal demands, university leadership has undergone several changes. New measures include a ban on masks during demonstrations and a rule requiring student identification during protests. Columbia has also expanded its public safety force, empowering officers to make arrests on campus.

It is worth noting that on Tuesday, the Trump administration sought to place Columbia University under federal oversight through a proposed consent decree, which would involve a judge monitoring the university’s compliance with federal directives, The Wall Street Journal reported. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report states that negotiations are currently underway, though Columbia’s board has yet to decide on whether to accept the proposal.

Federal officials have reportedly given Columbia two options: accept the consent decree or prepare for a legal battle that could expose the institution to greater scrutiny and a potentially harsher court-imposed outcome.

The proposed decree would mark a significant departure from typical federal actions regarding educational institutions. Unlike voluntary agreements, a consent decree is a binding legal mechanism, overseen by a federal judge. Acceptance would require Columbia’s formal approval, and rejection could lead to a protracted legal conflict.