Mostly women arrested in Columbia University library takeover: NYPD
3 minute readPublished: Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 7:46 pm
**Columbia University Library Takeover Leads to Mass Arrests**
Tensions flared at Columbia University on Wednesday as anti-Israel protesters stormed the Butler Library, leading to a significant police response and numerous arrests. The New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested a total of 80 individuals, with the majority being female (61). Sources indicate that at least 50 of those arrested were Columbia University students.
The protesters, who renamed the library "Basel Al-Araj Popular University," chanted slogans like "Free Palestine" and demanded that the university divest from Israel. The incident occurred during final exam week, disrupting academic activities and prompting swift action from university officials.
Columbia's acting president, Claire Shipman, stated that the NYPD was called in to "secure" the building after protesters broke into a reading room. She condemned the actions, emphasizing that disruptions to academic activities and any form of violence, antisemitism, or hate would not be tolerated. Two Columbia Public Safety Officers were injured during the chaos.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is also monitoring the situation, assessing whether any participants are non-citizens. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on university campuses.
Keywords: Columbia University, Butler Library, arrests, anti-Israel protest, NYPD, Claire Shipman, Free Palestine, divest from Israel, final exams, antisemitism, ICE, campus protests, Columbia University students, library takeover.