Tensions Erupt as Columbia University Library Occupied by Protesters, Dozens Arrested Amid Anti-Semitism Uproar
Columbia University plunged into chaos this week as pro-Palestinian demonstrators forcibly entered and occupied Butler Library, disrupting students preparing for final exams. The incursion, which unfolded against a backdrop of escalating tensions over alleged anti-Semitism on college campuses, resulted in the arrest of approximately 80 individuals after university officials called in the NYPD to restore order.
Acting university President Claire Shipman described the situation as “substantial chaos” that endangered students and campus staff. In a statement shared with CNN, she recounted witnessing injured campus security officers being treated and the library’s historic reading room defaced with graffiti and political slogans. “Violence and vandalism, hijacking a library—none of that has any place on our campus,” Shipman stated. “These aren’t Columbia’s values.”
Federal attention has intensified following the protest, especially after the arrest of one of its organizers by federal agents—an event cited by Axios as a contributing factor to the unrest. Columbia, like several other elite institutions, now faces heightened scrutiny and potential funding cuts due to accusations of failing to adequately respond to anti-Semitic incidents.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reacted strongly on social media, announcing that authorities are “reviewing the visa status” of foreign nationals involved in the protest, declaring that “Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.” His comments echoed wider federal concern about the radicalization of campus movements.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon also condemned the incident, calling it a “blatant demonstration of Jew hatred” and praising Columbia’s administration for taking quick action. “Disruptions like these rob students of a safe learning environment during one of the most crucial periods of the academic year,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.
As investigations proceed, Columbia University now finds itself at the center of a national reckoning over the limits of free speech, campus protest, and the growing polarization over the Israel-Palestine conflict.
