80 Arrested After Pro-Palestine Protesters Lay Siege To Columbia Library
Washington:
At least 80 people were arrested on Wednesday evening after a group of mask-clad pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched into Columbia University's Butler Library and occupied a reading room, reigniting tensions over the Gaza war on US campuses. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump Administration was reviewing the visa status of the "trespassers and vandals" who took over Columbia University's library.
"Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation," he said in a post on X.
We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University's library.
Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 8, 2025
The protest at Columbia University began around 3 pm (local time), when masked protesters, many of whom were wearing keffiyehs, entered the second-floor reading room of Butler Library. Videos and photographs shared on social media showed protesters standing on tables, beating drums and unfurling banners saying "Strike For Gaza" and "Liberated Zone" beneath the chandeliers of the Lawrence A Wein Reading Room.
Anti-Israel, pro-Palestine protesters have taken over Columbia University's library. All of these people, if they are students, should be immediately expelled: pic.twitter.com/IsJuZi4JTQ
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 7, 2025
They also hung Palestinian flags and other banners on bookshelves in an ornate reading room. Some protesters also appear to have scrawled "Columbia will burn" across framed pictures.
The university's acting president, Claire Shipman, said the protesters were asked repeatedly to show identification and to leave, but they refused. Following this, the school called the NYPD "to assist in securing the building and the safety of our community," she said in a statement Wednesday evening.
Shipman said two university public safety officers sustained injuries as protesters forced their way into the building.
"These actions are outrageous," she said, adding that the disruption came as students were studying and preparing for final exams.
Later videos showed police officers, in helmets, streaming into Columbia University Wednesday evening to remove the mask-clad pro-Palestinian demonstrators from the school's main library. Other videos show campus security officers barring another group of protesters from entering the library, with both sides shoving to try and force the other group aside.
Watch: NYPD transporting the arrested protesters who broke into Columbia University library tonight. These degenerates have been emboldened in their lawlessness for far too long. Enough is enough. Nobody is above the law, and the silent majority of law-abiding New Yorkers are… pic.twitter.com/V9kTMAAMPB
— Chaskel Bennett (@ChaskelBennett) May 8, 2025
Police said at least 80 people had been taken into custody, though it wasn't clear how many came from the demonstration inside the library and how many were outside the building.
The Trump administration has cracked down on international students and scholars at several American universities who had participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations or criticised Israel over its military action in Gaza. Columbia University scholar Mahmoud Khalil, for example, is a legal US resident with no criminal record who was detained in March over his participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Wednesday's demonstration and the effort to break it up came the same evening that the US Justice Department announced it had brought hate-crime charges against a man who had been repeatedly arrested at pro-Palestinian demonstrations over the past year, including one held near Columbia. An indictment charged Tarek Bazrouk, 20, with assaulting Jewish people at the demonstrations.
Columbia University in March announced sweeping policy changes related to protests following Trump administration threats to revoke its federal funding. Among them are a ban on students wearing masks to conceal their identities and a rule that those protesting on campus must present their identification when asked. The school also said it had hired new public safety officers empowered to make arrests on campus.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
'When this president speaks, the world should listen': US briefs on Iran strikes codenamed 'Midnight Hammer'
The United States defence department on Sunday briefed the media on Operation 'Midnight Hammer', confirming its success in "obliterating" Iran's nuclear ambitions. It informed that US military conducted targeted strikes at Iran's nuclear sites in Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz and the operation was being planned for "months". US secretary of defence, Pete Hegseth, categorically hinted at Donald Trump's warnings against Iran's possession of nuclear weapon and said, "When this President speaks, the world should listen, and the US military, we can back it up." "When POTUS says 60 days that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means 60 days of peace and negotiation. Otherwise, that nuclear program, that nuclear capability will not exist. This is not the previous administration. President Trump said no nukes. He seeks peace and Iran should take that path," he added. Follow live updates on Iran-Israel crisis Here are key points from the briefing: Successful strikes: US defense secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed successful precision strikes on Iran's Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear facilities, ordered by US President Trump. Strategic planning: The operation was the result of months and weeks of planning and coordination, particularly with Israel, indicating it was not a spontaneous decision. Coordinated effort with Israel: Hegseth credited Israel as a key ally in the operation, acknowledging their role in the joint preparation and execution of the mission. Mission objective: The goal was to destroy or severely degrade Iran's nuclear program; Hegseth said the mission 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear ambitions. No regime change goal: Hegseth clarified that the mission was not aimed at regime change in Iran. No civilian targets: The operation specifically avoided targeting Iranian troops or civilians. Clear deterrence message: The operation was intended to reassert American deterrence and demonstrate that the US will act swiftly and decisively to protect its people, interests, and partners. Trump's longstanding warning: Hegseth emphasized Trump has warned Iran for over a decade against developing nuclear weapons, asserting this operation fulfilled that stance. Military strength: He highlighted the operation as proof of America's unmatched military capability and restored global deterrence. 'Bunker busters' used: The strike featured the longest B-2 Spirit bomber mission since 2001 and marked the first operational use of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) — a powerful bunker-busting bomb designed to target deeply buried facilities. Iran's reaction: Iran condemned the strikes as illegal and vowed to continue its nuclear program despite the attack.
India.com
40 minutes ago
- India.com
No Nukes For Iran...: US Defence Secy Hails Spectacular Military Success After Airstrikes
Israel-Iran Conflict: After the United States struck Iran's nuclear sites in Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz, amid tensions with Israel, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth stated that the strikes were "an incredible and overwhelming success." He also added that United States President Donald Trump has consistently said for over a decade that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. "Last night, on President Trump's orders, US Central Command conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordeau, Natanz, and Isfahan, in order to destroy or severely degrade Iran's nuclear program. It was an incredible and overwhelming success," Hegseth said. "The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear that we had devastated the Iranian nuclear program. It's worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people..." he added. #WATCH | US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth says "Last night, on President Trump's orders, US Central Command conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, in order to destroy or severely degrade… — ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2025 Trump On Iran's Nuclear "For the entirety of his time in office, President Trump has consistently stated for over 10 years that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon, full stop. Thanks to President Trump's bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran's nuclear ambitions have been obliterated. Many Presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran's nuclear program, and none could until President Trump," the US Secretary of Defence said. On the other hand, in his first public remarks since the 'precision' strikes in Iran, Trump warned that he could order further action if Tehran does not agree to a satisfactory peace agreement. In his address to the nation from the White House on Saturday (local time), the US President said, 'There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we've witnessed over the last eight days.' Trump thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said, 'I want to thank Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we've gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel.' Top brass of the US political leadership stood beside US President Trump as he delivered the remarks, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth. Trump's announcement comes just two days after saying he had opened a two-week window for diplomacy. Israel-Iran Conflict The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its ninth day on Saturday, with the US launching strikes on the latter. The conflict started after Jerusalem, on June 13, launched a massive airstrike on Iranian military and nuclear sites, codenamed 'Operation Rising Lion.' In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a large-scale drone and missile operation, 'Operation True Promise 3', targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres. On Saturday (local time) US bombed the three Iranian nuclear facilities, after which several world leaders have weighed in on the continued tensions.
United News of India
40 minutes ago
- United News of India
IAEA convenes emergency meeting following US attacks on three Nuclear sites in Iran
New Delhi, June 22 (UNI) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has convened an emergency meeting on Monday in the light of the urgent situation in Iran and has confirmed that ''no increase'' in off-site radiation levels had been reported following US attacks on three nuclear sites. ''In the light of the urgent situation in Iran, I am convening an emergency meeting of the oard of Governors for tomorrow,'' IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said on X. ''Following attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran - including Fordow - the IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time,'' the IAEA said. However, IAEA would provide further assessments on situation in Iran as more information becomes available, it said. The IAEA said a large nuclear complex in Esfahan has been targeted for a second time during Israel's attacks on Iran over the past nine days, with several more buildings struck. Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that his country had carried out ''precision strikes'' on three nuclear facilities - Fordow, Esfahan and Natanz. "Our objective was destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and put a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one State sponsor of terror. I can report to the world that the strikes were spectacular, military success. The nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated," said Trump. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "With the awesome and righteous might of the United States, in tonight's actions against Iran's nuclear facilities America has been unsurpassed. It has done what no other country on earth could do. History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapon. President Trump and I offered peace through strength. First comes strength and then comes peace,' Netanyahu said. The IAEA DG had said in a report to the UN Security Council on Saturday that attacks on nuclear sites in Iran had caused a sharp degradation in nuclear safety and security in that country. However, although they had not so far led to a radiological release affecting the public, there is a danger this could occur. The US attacked three nuclear sites in Iran -- Fordow, Esfahan and Natanz. The Natanz enrichment site contains two facilities. The first is the main Fuel Enrichment Plant. Initial attacks on June 13 targeted and destroyed electricity infrastructure at the facility, including an electrical sub-station, the main electric power supply building, and emergency power supply and back-up generators. On the same day, the main cascade hall appears to have been attacked using ground-penetrating munitions. The second facility at Natanz is the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. It consists of aboveground and underground cascade halls. On June 13 the above-ground part was functionally destroyed and the strikes on the underground cascade halls were seriously damaging. The level of radioactivity outside the Natanz site has remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating no external radiological impact on the population or the environment. However, within the Natanz facility there is both radiological and chemical contamination. It is possible that Uranium isotopes contained in Uranium Hexafluoride, Uranyl Fluoride and Hydrogen Fluoride are dispersed inside the facility. The radiation, primarily consisting of alpha particles, poses a significant danger if inhaled or ingested. This risk can be effectively managed with appropriate protective measures, such as using respiratory devices. The main concern inside the facility is chemical toxicity. Fordow is Iran's main enrichment location for enriching uranium to 60 percent. The Agency is not aware of any damage at Fordow at this time. At the Esfahan nuclear site, four buildings were damaged in last Friday's attack: the central chemical laboratory, a uranium conversion plant, the Tehran reactor-fuel manufacturing plant, and the enriched uranium metal processing facility, which was under construction.
