Latest news with #LeslieGrinage
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pro-Palestinian protesters storm Barnard College library in demonstration over student expulsions
NEW YORK — Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted studies at the Barnard College library on Wednesday, escalating tensions with administrators in the aftermath of the brief takeover of a campus building. The masked disruptors filed into an unmarked side entrance as they entered the Milstein Center around 1 p.m., according to video posted by an independent protest group not associated with Barnard or its affiliate, Columbia University. It was unclear if they were planning to remain in the building, though the school has issued a warning demanding they leave. On social media, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of student groups, demanded the immediate reversal of three Barnard students' expulsions. Barnard spokespeople did not immediately return a request for comment. Inside the building lobby, protesters holding the Palestinian flag chanted through megaphones: 'We want justice, you say how? Un-expel our students now,' while others played drums and cymbals. One demonstrator jostled with a puppet whose name-tag identified it as Barnard President Laura Rosenbury. Another held a 'Wanted' sign of student life dean Leslie Grinage for 'the wrongful expulsion of pro-Palestinian students. Public safety quickly blocked the entrance of Milstein, according to Bwog, a student-run campus news website. An hour in, administrators issued a notice to protesters as a final warning. 'We have offered you multiple opportunities to leave the building peacefully and without further escalation,' read the memo. 'If you do not comply with this request, we will take further action as necessary to clear the building.'
The Guardian
27-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Pro-Palestinian students stage sit-in at Barnard College to protest expulsions
A group of pro-Palestinian student protesters stormed a Barnard College building on Wednesday to protest the expulsion last month of two students who interrupted a university class on Israel. The demonstrators, who numbered in the dozens, staged a sit-in outside Barnard dean Leslie Grinage's office in the college's Milbank Hall, the Columbia Spectator reported. A Barnard employee was 'physically assaulted' as students entered the building and was taken to an area hospital, a spokesperson for the college said in a statement. The 41-year-old man complained of 'pain about the body', the New York Times reported, citing a police spokesperson. He was later reported to be in stable condition. Video posted online by Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine shows the protesters, wearing masks and dressed in kaffiyeh scarves, rushing past university security to join others at the sit-in. Once there, demonstrators chanted slogans in support of Palestine, clapped and banged on drums. Protesters had gathered to demand that Barnard to reverse the students' expulsions, which came after they interrupted a 'History of Modern Israel' class on 21 January, taught by Professor Avi Shilon, a lecturer with Columbia University's Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. The masked students who interrupted the class condemned it as 'Zionist propaganda', in a statement read aloud. 'Israel is backed by world's most violent and imperialist forces and they attempt to erase this truth from our collective consciousness,' said one masked demonstrator, referring to the class. As of Thursday morning, more than 113,000 people have signed a letter requesting that the expelled students be reinstated. Barnard College has not confirmed the status of the students to the Guardian. Among other demands, demonstrators on Wednesday called for charges to be dropped against students who engaged in other pro-Palestinian actions, an 'abolition' of the current Barnard disciplinary process and for a public meeting with Grinage and Barnard president Laura Rosenbury. Three faculty members acted as facilitators between demonstrators and Dean Grinage, the Spectator reported. Students ultimately stayed for more than six hours before leaving the building at about 10.30pm, with a private meeting reportedly scheduled for Thursday. In a update issued Thursday morning, Robin Levine, Barnard's vice-president of strategic communications, said that students left Milbank Hall after receiving 'final written notice' that the college would consider 'additional necessary measures to protect the campus' if demonstrators did not vacate. 'No promises of amnesty were made, and no concessions were negotiated,' said Levine. Barnard College representatives condemned accused protesters of showing a 'disregard for the safety of our community'. At least nine NYPD vans were parked near the university by the time the sit in disbanded. Another protest was planned to take place Thursday afternoon outside Barnard College. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Barnard is an affiliate of Columbia University, which became a focal point for the pro-Palestinian protests that spread across the country after 7 October 2023. The latest action recalled a student occupation of Hamilton Hall last year, which resulted in the arrests of more than 100 students. Demonstrations have largely died down in 2025, in part due to protest restrictions imposed by campuses to prevent a repeat of the unrest in the last school year. But Donald Trump and other rightwing legislators have called for a crackdown on student protests under the guise of combatting antisemitism and leftist views at US colleges. One of Trump's executive orders calls on agencies to explore ways to deport pro-Palestinian international students. Hundreds of people gathered on Wednesday afternoon to protect the mosque – but the planned pro-Israel rally did not go ahead. Also on Wednesday, New York governor Kathy Hochul ordered the City University of New York (Cuny) to immediately remove a job posting advertising a Palestinian studies professor role at the state university system's Hunter College, in what Cuny's union condemned as a blatant violation of academic freedom. Protests against Hochul were also planned for on Thursday.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pro-Palestine protesters occupy Barnard College, disrupting classes
(NewsNation) — Pro-Palestine protesters staged a sit-in at Barnard College's Milbank Hall on Wednesday, disrupting classes and demanding the reinstatement of two expelled students, The Columbia Spectator reported. The demonstration began around 4 p.m. ET near Dean Leslie Grinage's office, with protesters chanting 'Grinage, Grinage you can't hide' and 'Dean Grinage, we know you, you expel your students, too.' According to Columbia University Apartheid Divest, the protesters demanded 'the immediate reversal' of two student expulsions and a public meeting with Barnard President Laura Rosenbury, as well as Grinage. Bill O'Reilly details Trump's vision for Gaza after speaking with him In a statement to NewsNation, Barnard spokesperson Robin Levine said that 'a small group of masked protesters forcibly entered Milbank Hall and physically assaulted a Barnard employee, sending them to the hospital.' The statement added that protesters 'encouraged others to enter campus without identification, showing blatant disregard for the safety of our community.' CUAD claims the students were expelled for participating in a Jan. 21 disruption of a History of Modern Israel class, The Columbia Spectator reported. 'We have taken the administration completely off guard! They will have no peace until we have justice,' CUAD wrote on Instagram. Barnard officials offered to meet with three 'unmasked and uncovered' Barnard students as negotiators, but required ID checks and the presence of a witness and security officer. Protesters countered with demands for amnesty for all demonstrators and no video recording of the meeting, The Columbia Spectator reported. Will the SAVE Act keep married women from voting? Columbia University distanced itself from the incident, stating: 'Barnard College is a separate institution from Columbia University, although it is affiliated. Columbia is not responsible for security on Barnard's campus.' Protesters voted hourly on whether to continue the sit-in, The Columbia Spectator reported. By 7:28 p.m., they had decided to remain until at least 8:30 p.m., with Barnard threatening 'additional, necessary measures' if protesters did not leave by 9:30 p.m. The protesters also wrote 'For Hind' on the dean's office door, referencing Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed by the Israeli military in January 2024. In April 2024, protesters occupied Columbia's Hamilton Hall and renamed it 'Hind's Hall.' Barnard told faculty to cancel or relocate classes scheduled in Milbank Hall after 5 p.m. CUAD announced that more protests were scheduled for Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Anti-Israel protesters allegedly assault employee during building takeover at Barnard College in New York City
A group of more than 50 anti-Israel protesters took over a building at New York City's Barnard College and allegedly assaulted an employee Wednesday evening. The students were protesting the expulsion of two students who stormed a Columbia University classroom in January and allegedly threw around flyers filled with hateful speech. Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine displayed videos on X of masked students in a hallway beating on drums and chanting on megaphones. The account also posted a list of demands accompanied by the text, "WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL OUR DEMANDS ARE MET. FREE PALESTINE." The demands include an "immediate reversal of the two Barnard students' expulsions" and "amnesty for all students disciplined for pro-Palestine action or thought. Drop all the charges now!" They also requested a public meeting with Dean Leslie Grinage and President Laura Rosenbury, and the abolition of the "corrupt Barnard disciplinary process," demanding complete transparency for current, past and future disciplinary proceedings. The students said that they will continue to disrupt the campus until these demands are met. A spokesperson for Barnard said the protesters had assaulted a college employee who ended up being sent to the hospital. "They encouraged others to enter campus without identification, showing blatant disregard for the safety of our community," Robin Levine, Barnard College's Vice President for Strategic Communications, said in a statement. Levine said she would give them until 9:30 p.m. to leave the building or the school would take other actions. "We have made multiple good-faith efforts to de-escalate. Barnard leadership offered to meet with the protesters," Levine's statement said. "They refused. We have also offered mediation." The protesters began leaving the building by 11 p.m., according to reports by FOX 5 New York.
Fox News
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Anti-Israel protesters take over building at Barnard College in New York City
A group of more than 50 anti-Israel protesters took over a building at New York City's Barnard College and allegedly assaulted an employee Wednesday evening. The students were protesting the expulsion of two students who stormed a Columbia University classroom in January and allegedly threw around flyers filled with hateful speech. Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine displayed videos on X of masked students in a hallway beating on drums and chanting on megaphones. The account also posted a list of demands accompanied by the text, "WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL OUR DEMANDS ARE MET. FREE PALESTINE." The demands include an "immediate reversal of the two Barnard students' expulsions" and "amnesty for all students disciplined for pro-Palestine action or thought. Drop all the charges now!" They also requested a public meeting with Dean Leslie Grinage and President Laura Rosenbury, and the abolition of the "corrupt Barnard disciplinary process," demanding complete transparency for current, past and future disciplinary proceedings. The students said that they will continue to disrupt the campus until these demands are met. A spokesperson for Barnard said the protesters had assaulted a college employee who ended up being sent to the hospital. "They encouraged others to enter campus without identification, showing blatant disregard for the safety of our community," Robin Levine, Barnard College's Vice President for Strategic Communications, said in a statement. Levine said she would give them until 9:30 p.m. to leave the building or the school would take other actions. "We have made multiple good-faith efforts to de-escalate. Barnard leadership offered to meet with the protesters," Levine's statement said. "They refused. We have also offered mediation." The protesters began leaving the building by 11 p.m., according to reports by FOX 5 New York.
