Anti-Israel protesters suffered instant karma when they stormed the main library at Columbia University only to remain stuck inside when school officials would not let them leave without identification.
Shocking videos posted online Wednesday evening showed dozens of people wearing keffiyehs and masks banging drums in a sprawling room at the Butler Library and hanging signs.
They repeated anti-Israel slogans for nearly an hour and renamed the library ‘Basel al-Araj Popular University’ after a Palestinian militant whom Israel has accused of planning a large scale attack, according to the New York Times.
But when the raucous demonstrators tried to leave the library, they were blocked by security guards at the Ivy League university unless they showed a proper school identification – leading to an hours-long standoff.
In one of the videos from the scene, guards could be seen telling the protesters they will be arrested for trespassing if they did not produce their school ID cards.
The blockage soon led an angry mob to try to push through the shuttered doors of the library, chanting ‘Let us out, let us out, let us out’ while their counterparts on the outside chanted ‘Let them out.’
The group then continued to push and shove at the security guards, leaving one woman visibly injured on the ground.
In the end, nearly 70 demonstrators were taken into custody for trespassing, and at least one protester and two security guards were injured in the assault – which came as university officials try to appease the Trump administration to regain some of its federal funding.
Anti-Israel protesters who stormed Columbia University’s main library on Wednesday suffered instant karma when school officials would not let them back out without identification
The chaos inside the library led even more protesters to gather outside – and prompted the school’s president to call police
The chaotic scene began at around 3pm when the protesters first entered Butler Library, pushing past a library security guard carrying tote bags and backpacks before heading up the stairs to the main reading room.
Columbia University Apartheid Divest – which is taking credit for the demonstration – claimed at the time that more than 100 people stormed the library.
‘The flood shows that as long as Columbia funds and profits from imperialist violence, the people will continue to disrupt Columbia’s profits and legitimacy,’ it said in a statement.
‘Repression breeds resistance – if Columbia escalates repression, the people will continue to escalate disruption on this campus,’ the group warned.
It said it was demanding ‘full financial divestment from Zionist occupation, apartheid and genocide; an academic boycott of all compliant institutions, including the cancelation of the Tel Aviv Global Center; cops and ICE off our campus’ and an end to ‘Columbia’s occupation of Harlem.’
The group also demanded ‘amnesty for all students, staff, faculty and workers targeted by Columbia University’s discipline.’
The scene prompted public security officials at the school to evacuate students who were not involved in the disruption from the library, the Times reports.
Meanwhile, guards told the demonstrators that they would not be allowed out if they did not produce their school ID.
People take part in a pro-Palestinian protest at Butler Library on the campus of Columbia University in New York
Scenes from inside the library showed people in masks and keffiyehs banging drums and hanging signs
At least one protester appeared to have been injured as an angry mob tried to push its way out of the library
Eventually at around 5.20pm, a group of about seven people were allowed to leave the building – while the remainder presumably refused to show their IDs.
A few minutes later, one protester was seen being brought out in handcuffs by the university’s public safety department – which now employs several dozen peace officers who have the authority to make arrests.
In an apparent attempt to be let out of the library, the fire alarm began sounding at around 5.30pm, before going silent a few minutes later.
The situation then turned more chaotic, leaving one protester injured and escaping through the back entrance of the library in a stretcher.
Soon after, demonstrators in support of the protesters inside the building also began assembling outside – chanting ‘no cops, no KKK, no fascist USA’ as they too tried to overpower the security guards blocking their way.
By around 7pm, Columbia University’s Acting President Claire Shipman announced she had called police to the scene.
‘The individuals who disrupted activities in Butler Reading Room 301 still refuse to identify themselves and leave the building,’ she said.
‘Due to the number of individuals participating in the disruption inside and outside 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 the NYPD to assist in securing the building and the safety of our community.
‘Requesting the presence of the NYPD is not the outcome we wanted, but it was absolutely necessary to secure the safety of our community,’ Shipman added.
Nearly 70 demonstrators were taken into custody for trespassing
She concluded by saying the university ‘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.’
Officers were soon captured on cell phone video entering the library – which caused a shriek from inside.
Within half an hour of Shipman’s announcement, demonstrators were seen being escorted out of the building, their hands restrained behind them with zip ties.
Police have since confirmed they responded to a ‘trespassing scene’ at the Ivy League university and charges against the protesters were pending.
But the chaotic scene had already attracted the attention of elected officials, with Mayor Eric Adams taking to X to condemn the demonstration.
‘As I’ve said repeatedly, New York City will always defend the right to peaceful protest, but we will never tolerate lawlessness,’ he said.
‘To our Jewish New Yorkers, especially the students at Columbia who feel threatened or unsafe attending class because of these events: know that your mayor stands with you and will always work to keep you safe.’
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also said she was briefed on the situation and was grateful for the public safety officials who kept students safe, according to ABC 7.
‘Everyone has the right to peacefully protest. But violence, vandalism or destruction of property are completely unacceptable.’
President Donald Trump has already revoked more than $400 million in federal funding from the Ivy League school for its prior ‘mishandling’ of protests against Israel
Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik agreed with his decision following the protest on Wednesday
Rep. Elise Stefanik went even further, writing: ‘While Columbia students try to study for finals, they’re being bombarded with chants for a “global intifada.”
‘Not a single taxpayer dollar should go to a university that allows chaos, antisemitism and civil rights violations on its campus,’ she said, agreeing with President Trump’s decision to revoke more than $400 million in federal funding from the Ivy League school for its prior ‘mishandling’ of protests against Israel.
In a letter on Tuesday, school officials said the funding cut resulted in 180 staff members being laid off.
‘Columbia’s leadership continues discussions with the federal government in support of resuming activity on these research awards and additional other awards that have remained active, but unpaid,’ the letter said.
‘We are working on planning for every eventuality, but the strain in the meantime, financially and on our research mission, is intense.’
It now remains unclear whether Wednesday’s chaos will lead the Trump administration to further revoke the school’s funding.
But officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Fox News they were monitoring the situation – and will fingerprint everyone who was arrested to determine if they are noncitizens.
Those who are may then face deportation.
‘Time to make a point,’ an ICE official said.
The State Department also warned foreign students about the consequences of breaking the law.
‘Foreign university students in America have been put on notice: If you break the law or support terrorism in our country, we will revoke your visa,’ it said.
‘This administration will not tolerate noncitizens causing mayhem on our college campuses.’
