Columbia University Cracks Down on Pro-Palestine Protesters in Bid to Appease Trump

Columbia University suspended over 65 students and banned 33 others from campus following a protest denouncing Israel’s brutal war in Gaza and US complicity.

Protesters occupied Butler Library, chanting anti-occupation slogans and renaming the space "Basel al-Araj Popular University" after a Palestinian intellectual and resistance figure assassinated by Israeli forces.

Videos posted online showed masked demonstrators drumming and holding signs in solidarity with Palestinians while criticizing Columbia’s financial ties to Israeli institutions.

When students attempted to exit, they were blocked by university security unless they presented ID, prompting an extended standoff.

Columbia, under growing pressure from federal officials, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, appeared to target activists in an effort to demonstrate loyalty to Washington's pro-Israel stance.

The university has refused to state how long the suspensions or bans will last, claiming ongoing investigation.

An unspecified number of alumni involved in the demonstration were also barred from entering university grounds.

New York City police, summoned by Columbia officials, entered the library in riot gear and forcibly dispersed the demonstration.

The NYPD responded at the university’s request, with university leadership labeling the protest an “outrageous disruption” to students preparing for exams.

Secretary Rubio announced that his office would investigate visa statuses of noncitizen protesters for possible deportation, further weaponizing immigration policy against political activism.

Protesters entered the library around 3 p.m., overwhelming a lone guard before taking the main reading room.

The group Columbia University Apartheid Divest took responsibility, demanding full divestment from “Zionist occupation, apartheid and genocide,” and the cancellation of Columbia’s partnership with Tel Aviv University.

Their statement added: “Repression breeds resistance. If Columbia escalates repression, the people will escalate disruption.”

Security evacuated non-participating students from the library, while others were trapped inside until they showed identification.

Around 5:20 p.m., a few protesters were allowed to leave, while others remained inside.

One protester was handcuffed and removed by campus security. Another was injured during the raid and taken out on a stretcher.

Outside, supporters chanted against fascism and the police as security guards attempted to block their access.

Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, publicly justified the police intervention, citing “safety hazards” and the presence of “unauthorized individuals.”

She claimed: “Requesting NYPD presence is not what we wanted, but it was necessary to ensure safety.”

Shipman also reiterated standard official language condemning violence, antisemitism, and hate — terms critics argue are increasingly used to delegitimize pro-Palestinian voices.

Video showed officers entering the library and arresting protesters with zip ties.

Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul praised the police response, portraying the students as a threat despite the absence of violence initiated by demonstrators.

Rep. Elise Stefanik condemned the protesters and supported Trump’s decision to revoke over $400 million in federal funding from Columbia for its perceived failure to suppress anti-Israel speech.

The funding cut has already led to 180 staff layoffs, and university officials acknowledged further financial strain.

ICE officials told Fox News they are monitoring the situation and will fingerprint arrested individuals to identify noncitizens for deportation.

A State Department statement warned foreign students that those accused of supporting terrorism may lose their visas: “This administration will not tolerate noncitizens causing mayhem on our college campuses.”

The episode reflects a broader crackdown on Palestinian solidarity, as elite institutions and US agencies align to criminalize dissent and protect the interests of Israel.