A group of pro-Palestinian students occupied a building at Barnard College in Manhattan on Wednesday. This protest led to a clash with staff, resulting in one employee being hospitalized.
The demonstration was organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest. It aimed to draw attention to the expulsion of two students who had disrupted an Israeli history class the previous month.
Nearly 100 students from Barnard and Columbia joined the sit-in at Milbank Hall. Video footage shared on social media showed masked students, some wearing keffiyehs, chanting, clapping, and playing drums inside the hallway.
Tensions escalated when a Barnard employee was physically assaulted during the protest. Barnard’s spokesperson confirmed that the incident led to medical attention for the injured staff member.
Students reported being harassed by security personnel, with at least one student being knocked down. This incident sparked a renewed debate over campus safety amid ongoing tensions related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The protesters are calling for several changes: the reinstatement of expelled students, amnesty for others disciplined for pro-Palestine actions, a public meeting with Barnard’s President Laura Rosenbury, and increased transparency in disciplinary processes.
By Wednesday evening, the demonstrators had exited Milbank Hall peacefully after the school set a deadline for them to leave.
President Rosenbury emphasized the importance of campus safety in her statement, calling the actions of the protesters unacceptable.
The expulsion of the students had been previously announced by Columbia University Apartheid Divest, but Barnard declined to discuss specific cases for legal reasons.
In January, some individuals had caused disruptions during the first session of a History of Modern Israel class by distributing flyers with violent images.
Barnard officials stated they must protect the university as a safe and respectful space for learning. They highlighted efforts to engage with the protesters, including a request to remove their masks during discussions, which the protesters declined.
CUAD criticized the request to remove masks, stating it could expose students to risks of doxxing and violence. They feel the insistence on this condition betrays good faith negotiations.
In solidarity with the expelled students, CUAD held a mass picket outside Barnard’s gates the following day. The protest reflects a broader trend of ongoing demonstrations at universities nationwide linked to the conflict in Gaza.
Last year, Columbia faced significant protests, including a major disruption that led to the resignation of its president amid criticism of the university’s handling of campus tensions.
Earlier this year, Barnard suspended over 55 students for alleged participation in pro-Palestinian activities at Columbia.
While the recent protest occurred at Barnard, Columbia officials stated they were monitoring the situation and reiterated that disruptions to academic activities are unacceptable.
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