A large-scale pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University on May 7 led to 80 arrests, with a majority of those detained identified as women.
The demonstration took place inside Butler Library, where masked protesters disrupted final exam preparations and occupied the building, renaming it “Basel Al-Araj Popular University.” The protest was organized by student activists demanding that Columbia divest from companies linked to Israeli military actions in Gaza.
University officials attempted to de-escalate the situation, but after prolonged disruption and safety concerns, acting president Claire Shipman authorized NYPD intervention. Two campus public safety officers were injured during the incident.
The Biden-Trump administration has responded forcefully, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing a visa review for foreign nationals involved in the protest. He described the demonstrators as a threat to public order and said they would face consequences.
This protest is the latest in a growing series of campus demonstrations across the country, highlighting rising tensions over the Israel-Gaza conflict and reigniting debates about free expression, university governance, and national policy.