On May 7, 2025, student protesters at Columbia University occupied Butler Library’s reading room, reigniting nationwide protests against the university’s affiliations with Israel. Columbia acknowledged the disruption, stating its public safety team was present to manage the situation and warned protesters they could face disciplinary actions for not identifying themselves or leaving. The university emphasized that such disruptions were unacceptable, particularly during finals preparation.
The protest was organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), which calls for the institution to sever ties with Israel. CUAD described the event as a significant action, referring to the library as the “Basel Al-Araj Popular University” and criticizing Columbia for its financial ties to what they term “imperialist violence.” The group vowed to escalate protests in response to perceived repression, insisting that resistance would continue as long as Columbia profits from these ties.
While the university’s administration allowed uninvolved individuals to exit the library, protesters were required to present identification, leading to tense confrontations with security. The protest coincided with heightened tensions in Gaza, where Israel had intensified military operations. It also coincided with the Trump administration’s attempts to withhold federal funding from certain universities, including Columbia and Harvard, for not sufficiently addressing campus antisemitism.
CUAD’s demands included complete divestment from Israel, the removal of police and ICE from campus, and protections for students facing disciplinary actions. The protest was marked by a heavy police presence outside the campus, though law enforcement had not been requested to intervene directly. The situation underlines the ongoing controversies surrounding academic institutions’ roles in international conflicts and the complexities of free speech on campuses.
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