NYPD Arrests Over 70 Pro-Palestinian Protesters at Columbia University

On Wednesday, pro-Palestinian protesters forcibly occupied Columbia University's Butler Library, prompting NYPD intervention that resulted in at least 30 to 80 arrests. The demonstrators, many wearing masks, pushed past campus security, hung Palestinian flags, and vandalized library property with messages like “Columbia will burn,” disrupting students preparing for final exams. Two university public safety officers were injured during the unrest, and protesters refused to show identification when asked, leading to their detention. The incident reflects ongoing tensions at Columbia, which has faced federal scrutiny and funding cuts amid allegations of antisemitism and failure to protect Jewish students. Authorities, including ICE and the State Department, are monitoring the situation closely, warning foreign students that visa revocation is possible if involved in illegal activities or terrorism support. University officials and New York political leaders condemned the violence and disruption, emphasizing that such actions will not be tolerated.