Anti-Israel Protesters Take over Columbia University Library as Anti-Semitism Concerns Escalate
Pro-Palestinian protesters stormed a library at Columbia University and occupied it while students in the library were studying for exams. Columbia is one of many universities that are facing funding cuts because of allegations of anti-Semitism. The arrest of a Columbia protest leader by federal agents was a secondary reason, according to Axios.
About 80 of the protesters were taken into custody by New York Police after the NYPD was asked to intervene in a situation that acting university President Claire Shipman referred to as “substantial chaos” and “posed a serious risk to our students and campus safety,” according to a statement obtained by CNN.
“I spent the late afternoon and evening at Butler Library, as events were unfolding, to understand the situation on the ground and to be able to make the best decisions possible,” said Shipman.
“I arrived to see one of our Public Safety officers wheeled out on a gurney and another getting bandaged,” added Shipman.
Shipman also said that when she left hours later, she walked through the reading room, which she feels is “one of the many jewels of Butler Library, and I saw it defaced and damaged in disturbing ways with disturbing slogans.”
“Violence and vandalism, hijacking a library – none of that has any place on our campus. These aren’t Columbia’s values,” said Shipman.
“We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a social media post picked up by Politico on Wednesday. “Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.”
HAPPENING NOW: A large group of protestors with Keffiyeh face coverings have established a ‘liberated little Palestine’ inside Columbia University library. pic.twitter.com/iYyzSlyz4o
— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) May 7, 2025
Some GOP lawmakers expressed their support of Rubio’s decision to review visa statuses.
“Attention pro-Hamas rioters on college campuses across the country: you are on notice,” House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X “America will no longer tolerate your anti-Semitic violence, destruction, harassment, and intimidation.”
Attention pro-Hamas rioters on college campuses across the country: you are on notice.
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 8, 2025
America will no longer tolerate your antisemitic violence, destruction, harassment, and intimidation.
Thank you @POTUS and @SecRubio. https://t.co/XNgyZn849l
“It’s disappointing to again see blatant demonstrations of Jew hatred on Columbia’s campus. Persistent examples of anti-Semitism on campuses across the country is why President Trump organized the Joint Task Force to combat anti-Semitism. Last night’s disruption deprived students of a safe learning environment at a time they should be free to focus on exams,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon posted on X.
She went on to “commend” Columbia’s leadership “for a swift response that restored order and clarified that anti-Semitic mobs will no longer be tolerated. It will be important to see what action is taken against those arrested."
It is disappointing to again see blatant demonstrations of Jew hatred on Columbia’s campus. Persistent examples of antisemitism on campuses across the country is why President Trump organized the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. Last night’s disruption deprived students…
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) May 8, 2025
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Anadolu/Contributor
Originally published May 08, 2025.
