Columbia University, which is in New York City, has condemned the behaviour of students who stood on tables during a protest in the main reading room of a campus library
Two security staff – described as a university’s own policing team – have suffered injuries following a huge crowd surge during a protest on campus.
It is thought more than 100 students gathered today in the main reading room of a library at Columbia University, which is in New York City. They stood on tables, beat drums and unfurled pro-Palestinian banners during the demonstration, which turned ugly when uni staff asked them to leave the building.
Their behaviour was disturbing students preparing for their final exams, it is understood. A mass crowd surge ensued and led to two Columbia University public safety officers – previously described as the institution’s own police – sustaining injuries. It is thought they have required treatment in hospital.
It is understood at least 50 protesters have been arrested after New York Police Department (NYPD) were called to the disruption, some of which was caught on camera by shocked witnesses in the Upper Manhattan neighbourhood.
Footage taken for CBS News shows NYPD officers struggle to contain the large numbers of demonstrators. Some officers and students are seen wrangling with street furniture among the crowds. Other students are seen waving banners reading messages like “Strike For Gaza” and “Liberated Zone”.
The prestigious university, a private Ivy League research centre established in 1754, has blasted the scenes. Claire Shipman, Acting President, said in a statement to reporters: “Sadly, during the course of this disruption, two of our Columbia Public Safety Officers sustained injuries during a crowd surge when individuals attempted to force their way into the building and into Room 301. These actions are outrageous.”
The statement for the university, which caters for more than 36,000 students, added: “I want to update the community on the latest information regarding the disruption at Butler Library. The individuals who disrupted activities in Butler Reading Room 301 still refuse to identify themselves and leave the building. Due to the number of individuals participating in the disruption inside and outside of the building, a large group of people attempting to force their way into Butler Library creating a safety hazard, and what we believe to be the significant presence of individuals not affiliated with the University, Columbia has taken the necessary step of requesting the presence of NYPD to assist in securing the building and the safety of our community.
“Individuals participating in the Reading Room 301 disruption were repeatedly asked for identification and to leave, and were repeatedly told that failure to comply would result in violations of our rules and policies and possible arrest for trespassing. We have been clear from the outset about applying our protocols and advising participants of the potential consequences of not complying. Requesting the presence of the NYPD is not the outcome we wanted, but it was absolutely necessary to secure the safety of our community.
“Disruptions to our academic activities will not be tolerated and are violations of our rules and policies; this is especially unacceptable while our students study and prepare for final exams. Columbia strongly condemns violence on our campus, antisemitism and all forms of hate and discrimination, some of which we witnessed today. We are resolute that calls for violence or harm have no place at our University. We will continue to keep our community apprised as the situation evolves.”
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