Pro-Palestinian Activists Occupy Columbia University Library, Three Arrested

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters, organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest, occupied a reading room in Columbia University's Butler Library, disrupting students preparing for final exams. The demonstrators, many masked and chanting slogans such as 'globalize the intifada,' hung banners and declared the space the 'Basel Al-Araj Popular University' while demanding divestment from Israel and amnesty for disciplined students. Protesters clashed with campus security, who required identification for anyone exiting and warned of possible arrest for noncompliance. The university condemned the protest as an unacceptable disruption of academic activities and announced that individuals involved would face disciplinary action. This incident follows previous campus unrest and occurs amid federal scrutiny and significant funding cuts tied to accusations of inadequate protection for Jewish students. Multiple protesters were reportedly arrested during the standoff.