Columbia Protest Ends With Dozens Arrested by NYPD

Columbia Protest Ends With Dozens Arrested by NYPD \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ NYPD officers forcibly removed pro-Palestinian protesters from Columbia University’s main library Wednesday night after a tense occupation. The university cited safety and policy violations, while over 30 protesters were detained. The raid came amid heightened scrutiny over campus protests and a new federal hate-crime charge linked to earlier demonstrations.

Quick Looks

• NYPD cleared a pro-Palestinian protest inside Columbia University’s Butler Library.
• Protesters entered the library, hung flags, and left messages like “Columbia will burn.”
• Over 30 individuals were arrested, some with hands zip-tied behind their backs.
• Videos showed clashes with campus security trying to block additional protesters.
• Columbia’s acting president said the school requested NYPD intervention.
• Two university public safety officers were injured in the entry.
• Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul condemned vandalism and violence.
• Protesters said Columbia profited from “imperialist violence” and vowed more action.
• New federal charges were announced against Tarek Bazrouk for hate crimes at protests.
• Columbia has implemented strict anti-mask and ID rules since federal funding threats.

Deep Look

An intense standoff unfolded at Columbia University on Wednesday evening as helmeted New York Police Department (NYPD) officers moved in to remove a group of pro-Palestinian protesters who had forcefully occupied the university’s Butler Library. The confrontation marked one of the most dramatic escalations in campus activism in recent months and drew widespread attention amid heightened national tensions over free speech, student protests, and Middle East politics.

The protest began earlier in the afternoon when demonstrators — most wearing masks — rushed past campus security and entered the main library. Once inside, they occupied a historic reading room, draped Palestinian flags from shelves, and displayed banners expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause. One controversial slogan, “Columbia will burn,” was reportedly scrawled across framed photographs on the walls, intensifying concerns over safety and vandalism.

Videos shared widely on social media captured the chaotic scene. Protesters were seen sprinting into the library, while security staff attempted unsuccessfully to block their entry. Another group of demonstrators, meanwhile, clashed with campus security at the entrance, with physical altercations erupting as each side struggled to gain control of access points.

Hours later, with the situation unresolved, a long line of NYPD officers filed into the building, responding to a formal request by university officials to secure the premises. Authorities did not immediately disclose how many individuals were arrested, but footage posted by on-the-ground journalists showed more than 30 people being led out in zip-tie restraints. Outside, a crowd of students and supporters chanted “Free Palestine” while cheering the detained protesters, creating a spectacle that highlighted deep divisions on campus.

In a formal statement, Columbia’s acting president Claire Shipman condemned the demonstration. She explained that university staff had made repeated efforts to defuse the situation peacefully by asking the protesters to show ID and leave the library. Their refusal, she said, left the administration no choice but to involve law enforcement to restore safety and order. According to Shipman, two public safety officers were injured during the initial breach of the library.

“These actions are outrageous and unacceptable,” Shipman declared. “They disrupted our academic environment at a critical time when students are preparing for their final exams. Our primary responsibility is to protect the safety of all members of our community.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams supported the university’s decision, describing the protesters as trespassers and defending the police intervention. Governor Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, weighed in via social media, affirming the right to peaceful protest but denouncing what she called “violence, vandalism, or destruction of property” as completely intolerable.

The events at Columbia coincided with a federal announcement that added another layer of complexity to the ongoing protests. The U.S. Department of Justice revealed Wednesday that it had filed hate crime charges against Tarek Bazrouk, a 20-year-old previously arrested at several pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including some held near Columbia’s campus.

According to the indictment, Bazrouk was involved in three separate incidents: he allegedly kicked a protester in the stomach at a rally near the New York Stock Exchange, punched a man wearing an Israeli flag at a January protest in Manhattan, and stole an Israeli flag before striking another individual near Columbia. The DOJ emphasized that the charges reflect a pattern of violent behavior targeting Jewish individuals based on their identity.

Bazrouk’s attorney, Andrew Dalack, expressed confidence in his client’s defense. “We look forward to zealously defending Mr. Bazrouk in court,” he said, noting that a magistrate judge had approved his release on bail. Bazrouk was held overnight pending a Thursday hearing before a federal judge.

Meanwhile, the university’s recent policy reforms are drawing scrutiny from both supporters and critics. In March, Columbia adopted sweeping new measures aimed at curbing disruptive protests. These included bans on face coverings used to conceal identities and a strict mandate requiring protesters to present university identification when asked. The administration also expanded the authority of campus safety officers, granting them limited arrest powers to maintain order during large-scale demonstrations.

The group responsible for organizing the library occupation — Columbia University Apartheid Divest — defended its actions as a legitimate act of resistance. In a statement shared online, the group accused Columbia of profiting from what it described as “imperialist violence” and denounced the administration’s crackdowns as repressive.

“Repression breeds resistance,” the group wrote. “If Columbia escalates repression, the people will escalate disruptions.”

This sentiment is reflective of a broader national trend. As university campuses across the U.S. become battlegrounds for heated debates on foreign policy, student activism, and institutional accountability, administrators are increasingly caught between protecting freedom of expression and ensuring safety and decorum.

Columbia, long considered a hub of political engagement, now finds itself at the center of this storm. With final exams underway and tensions at a boiling point, university leadership faces urgent questions about how to balance its academic mission with students’ demands for political expression.

The protests have reignited discussions about the role of higher education institutions in addressing global injustice, the limits of protest in academic settings, and the fine line between civil disobedience and unlawful disruption. For now, Columbia is trying to navigate these turbulent waters — but Wednesday’s dramatic events suggest the conflict is far from over.

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