Latest news with #ColumbiaStudentsforJusticeinPalestine
Boston Globe
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Police responding to bomb threat clear pro-Palestinian protesters occupying Barnard College library
Videos shared widely on social media showed protesters inside the building earlier Wednesday afternoon chanting, playing drums and hanging Palestinian flags on walls. Most wore kaffiyeh scarves and other coverings obscuring their faces. Advertisement Videos from Wednesday evening showed police entering the building wearing helmets and carrying zip ties and then later clearing and detaining protesters and others from the lawn outside the building. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Barnard President Laura Ann Rosenbury said afterward that the women's college, which is affiliated with Columbia University, will resume its regular academic schedule Thursday. She also denounced protesters as endangering staff and students by refusing to evacuate the building even after officials notified them of the threat and activated the fire alarm — leaving the school no choice but to request police assistance. 'Today has been unsettling and disturbing, and these continued disruptions take a toll on our community,' Rosenbury said in a statement. 'The desire of a few to disrupt and threaten cannot outweigh the needs of the students, faculty, and staff who call our campus home.' The group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine dismissed the threat as 'manufactured by Barnard administrators' to clear the protest, noting in posts on X that police brought detained students back into the library even as they continued their investigation. The student group launched its sit-in around 1 p.m. Wednesday in response to the expulsions of student protesters and other recent actions taken by school officials. Last week, pro-Palestinian protesters wearing keffiyeh scarves and masks pushed their way into the college's Milbank Hall, which houses the offices of the dean, and assaulted a school employee, according to school officials. Advertisement Protest organizers said they dispersed after the administration agreed to meet with them over their demands, which included amnesty for all students disciplined for pro-Palestinian action.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pro-Palestinian protesters at Barnard College force entry into campus hall and injure employee, school says
A Pro-Palestinian protest unfolded at Barnard College in New York City on Wednesday, where a small group 'forcibly entered' a campus hall and allegedly physically assaulted a school employee, college officials said. A sit-in demonstration was organized Wednesday at Barnard's Office of the Deans to protest the expulsion of two Barnard students last week for allegedly 'disrupting' a Columbia University class on Israeli history a month earlier, according to protest group Columbia University Apartheid Divest. Barnard College is an independent women's college affiliated with Columbia in which students can take courses at both schools. During the protest, a small group of masked demonstrators 'forcibly entered Milbank Hall' and 'physically assaulted a Barnard employee, sending them to the hospital,' Robin Levine, Barnard College's Vice President for Strategic Communications, said in a statement Wednesday evening. The New York City Police Department said it responded to the vicinity of West 120 Street and Broadway around 4 p.m. Wednesday and found a 41-year-old man who said he was 'shoved by numerous individuals and complained of pain about the body.' He was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital in stable condition. Police said no arrests were made. 'They encouraged others to enter campus without identification, showing blatant disregard for the safety of our community,' Levine said. 'Violence and intimidation have no place here.' However, the group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine had posted on X: 'We do not need outside support for the sit-in.' Instead, anyone who wanted to support was asked to head to a rally in Bay Ridge instead. Levine said protesters had until 9:30 p.m. to leave the building or else the college would "be forced to consider additional, necessary measures to protect our campus.' Barnard President Laura Rosenbury said in a statement later Wednesday night that the protesters had vacated Milbank Hall. 'Tonight, a small group of masked protesters attempted to undermine Barnard's core values of respect, inclusion, and academic excellence," Rosenbury said. 'Thanks to the efforts of our staff and faculty, the protesters have now left Milbank Hall without further incident. But let us be clear: their disregard for the safety of our community remains completely unacceptable.' Student group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine shared videos on X of the protest's progress. One video showed participants wearing keffiyehs, a traditional Arab headdress and symbol of Palestinian nationalism, and masks covering their mouths chanting and clapping to the beat of a drum while sitting in the hall of a building. Another video shared at 5 p.m. Wednesday showed a protest organizer updating participants on conversations with school leaders. The Columbia Spectator reported that the group gathered outside Barnard Dean Leslie Grinage's office in Milbank Hall, where they remained for over six hours. The protest disrupted classes in Milbank, according to the student paper. Barnard told faculty members with classes there after 5 p.m. Wednesday to either relocate or cancel. Later in the evening, the student protest group posted on X that Barnard protesters had dispersed 'after successfully forcing administrators to the negotiating table' in a meeting set for 1 p.m. Thursday. Nearly 100 students from both Barnard and Columbia participated in the initial sit-in protest at the Office of the Deans, Columbia University Apartheid Divest said in a news release. They were demanding that last week's two expulsions be reversed, amnesty for students disciplined for pro-Palestine views, and a public meeting with Barnard Dean Leslie Grinage and President Laura Rosenbury. The group said Barnard had already suspended over 50 students for pro-Palestinian protest. The expulsions last Friday marked the first at either Columbia or Barnard for pro-Palestinian protest, and the first expulsions for protest on the campus since 1968. Last year, Columbia University was the site of tense student-led protests decrying the Israel-Gaza war and demanding the university divest from companies that support Israel. Tent encampments were erected on the campus quad and demonstrators took over campus buildings in protests that saw the school call in the New York City Police Department. This article was originally published on
NBC News
27-02-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Pro-Palestinian protesters at Barnard College force entry into campus hall and injure employee, school says
A Pro-Palestinian protest unfolded at Barnard College in New York City on Wednesday, where a small group 'forcibly entered' a campus hall and allegedly physically assaulted a school employee, college officials said. A sit-in demonstration was organized Wednesday at Barnard's Office of the Deans to protest the expulsion of two Barnard students last week for allegedly 'disrupting' a Columbia University class on Israeli history a month earlier, according to protest group Columbia University Apartheid Divest. Barnard College is an independent women's college affiliated with Columbia in which students can take courses at both schools. During the protest, a small group of masked demonstrators 'forcibly entered Milbank Hall' and 'physically assaulted a Barnard employee, sending them to the hospital,' Robin Levine, Barnard College's Vice President for Strategic Communications, said in a statement Wednesday evening. As of Thursday morning, it's not clear what the nature of the injury was nor what the condition that employee is in. 'They encouraged others to enter campus without identification, showing blatant disregard for the safety of our community,' Levine said. 'Violence and intimidation have no place here.' However, the group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine had posted on X: 'We do not need outside support for the sit-in.' Instead, anyone who wanted to support was asked to head to a rally in Bay Ridge instead. Levine said protesters had until 9:30 p.m. to leave the building or else the college would "be forced to consider additional, necessary measures to protect our campus.' Barnard President Laura Rosenbury said in a statement later Wednesday night that the protesters had vacated Milbank Hall. 'Tonight, a small group of masked protesters attempted to undermine Barnard's core values of respect, inclusion, and academic excellence," Rosenbury said. 'Thanks to the efforts of our staff and faculty, the protesters have now left Milbank Hall without further incident. But let us be clear: their disregard for the safety of our community remains completely unacceptable.' Student group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine shared videos on X of the protest's progress. One video showed participants wearing keffiyehs, a traditional Arab headdress and symbol of Palestinian nationalism, and masks covering their mouths chanting and clapping to the beat of a drum while sitting in the hall of a building. Another video shared at 5 p.m. Wednesday showed a protest organizer updating participants on conversations with school leaders. The Columbia Spectator reported that the group gathered outside Barnard Dean Leslie Grinage's office in Milbank Hall, where they remained for over six hours. The protest disrupted classes in Milbank, according to the student paper. Barnard told faculty members with classes there after 5 p.m. Wednesday to either relocate or cancel. Later in the evening, the student protest group posted on X that Barnard protesters had dispersed 'after successfully forcing administrators to the negotiating table' in a meeting set for 1 p.m. Thursday. Nearly 100 students from both Barnard and Columbia participated in the initial sit-in protest at the Office of the Deans, Columbia University Apartheid Divest said in a news release. They were demanding that last week's two expulsions be reversed, amnesty for students disciplined for pro-Palestine views, and a public meeting with Barnard Dean Leslie Grinage and President Laura Rosenbury. The group said Barnard had already suspended over 50 students for pro-Palestinian protest. The expulsions last Friday marked the first at either Columbia or Barnard for pro-Palestinian protest, and the first expulsions for protest on the campus since 1968. Last year, Columbia University was the site of tense student-led protests decrying the Israel-Gaza war and demanding the university divest from companies that support Israel. Tent encampments were erected on the campus quad and demonstrators took over campus buildings in protests that
Los Angeles Times
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Pro-Palestinian protesters force their way into Barnard College building, injuring an employee
NEW YORK — Pro-Palestinian protesters wearing kaffiyeh scarves and masks pushed their way into Barnard College's Milbank Hall, which houses the offices of the dean, and assaulted a school employee Wednesday, according to the school. The protesters later left Milbank Hall in the night 'without further incident,' Barnard President Laura Rosenbury said in a statement. 'But let us be clear: their disregard for the safety of our community remains completely unacceptable,' the statement said. The school had warned that if the students were not gone by 9:30 p.m. officials could be forced to take 'additional, necessary measures to protect our campus.' The student group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said on the social platform X that protesters dispersed after the administration agreed to meet with them Thursday afternoon. The demonstrators demanded amnesty for all students disciplined for pro-Palestinian action; a meeting with Rosenbury and Dean Leslie Grinage; and reversal of the expulsion of two students, according to the group. 'WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL OUR DEMANDS ARE MET. FREE PALESTINE,' it posted on X earlier in the day. An employee was sent to the hospital after being assaulted by the protesters, Robin Levine, Barnard's vice president for strategic communications, said in a statement, without offering further details. The protesters also encouraged other people to come on campus without identification, Levine added. 'Barnard leadership offered to meet with the protesters — just as we meet with all members of our community — on one simple condition: remove their masks,' she said earlier in the evening. 'They refused. We have also offered mediation.' Videos posted by the student group showed people wearing masks and kaffiyehs chanting in a hallway. Some banged on drums, while others held megaphones. Palestinian flags were hung on the walls, and slogans were scrawled on walls with messages such as 'Barnard funds genocide' and 'Free Palestine.'
Boston Globe
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Pro-Palestinian protesters force their way into Barnard College building, injuring an employee
The school had warned that if the students were not gone by 9:30 p.m. officials could be forced to take 'additional, necessary measures to protect our campus.' The student group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said on the social platform X that protesters dispersed after the administration agreed to meet with them Thursday afternoon. The demonstrators demanded amnesty for all students disciplined for pro-Palestine action; a meeting with Rosenbury and Dean Leslie Grinage; and reversal of the expulsion of two students, according to the group. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL OUR DEMANDS ARE MET. FREE PALESTINE,' it posted on X earlier in the day. Advertisement An employee was sent to the hospital after being assaulted by the protesters, Robin Levine, Barnard's vice president for strategic communications said in a statement, without offering further details. The protesters also encouraged other people to come on campus without identification, Levine added. 'Barnard leadership offered to meet with the protesters — just as we meet with all members of our community — on one simple condition: remove their masks,' she said earlier in the evening. 'They refused. We have also offered mediation.' Videos posted by the student group showed people wearing masks and kaffiyeh scarves chanting in a hallway. Some banged on drums, while others held megaphones. Palestinian flags were hung on the walls and slogans such as 'Barnard funds genocide' and 'Free Palestine' were scrawled on the walls.
