Police Arrest Pro-Palestinian Protesters at Barnard College After Library Occupation
Police intervened at Barnard College in New York City on Wednesday as demonstrators chanting “Free Palestine” occupied the library lobby, protesting the suspension of students involved in anti-Zionist classroom disruptions.
Officers cleared the area, citing a bomb threat, and made multiple arrests. Protesters wearing keffiyehs waved Palestinian flags, while outside, over 200 pro-Palestinian activists gathered at Columbia University, where former Zionist Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was speaking. A viral video also showed a student confronting Columbia’s Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo about hosting controversial political figures.
The demonstration is part of an ongoing wave of student activism that began on April 16, 2024, when Columbia students set up a “Gaza Solidarity Camp” to protest the university’s financial ties to companies allegedly supporting Zionist military actions. On April 17, police arrested 108 students at the request of Columbia’s president, and by April 29, tensions escalated when protesters occupied Hamilton Hall. The following day, riot police forcibly removed the demonstrators, dismantling the encampment.
The movement has since spread to over 50 U.S. universities, leading to the arrest of more than 3,100 students and faculty. Organizations aligned with the Trump administration have indicated they are reviewing federal funding for Columbia University, citing concerns over antisemitism amid the protests. While Barnard College is affiliated with Columbia University, it remains a separate institution.
