61 females were taken into custody by the New York Police Department following the intrusion of anti-Israel activists at Columbia University’s Butler Library while students were preparing for exams on Wednesday.
A source indicated that a total of 80 arrests were made, with 19 being males and 61 being females. Additionally, the source revealed that around 50 of those arrested were students at Columbia University.
During the protest, the Butler Library was given the name “Basel Al-Araj Popular University.” Witnesses reported that demonstrators stood on a desk chanting “Free Palestine” and calling for the university to cut ties with Israel.
At the entrance gate to Columbia University, a security guard said “Nobody comes in, nobody comes out.”
Pro-Hamas slogans on sheets are hung inside of Butler Library on the campus of Columbia University, where protesters occupied the building today, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The protesters were subsequently arrested by the NYPD. (Sam Nahins)
In a separate statement, Shipman said that individuals broke into one of the library’s reading rooms.
“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,” Shipman said.
Pro-Hamas protesters walk the perimeter of Columbia University in New York City, NY Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Protesters had occupied the Butler Library that afternoon to demonstrate their support for Hamas. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was also monitoring the incident, noting the agency would work to determine if any participants were non-citizens.
“Time to make a point,” an ICE source told Fox News.Â
