New York City Police officers took dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators into custody at Columbia University's Butler Library on Wednesday evening.
NYPD officers were seen removing dozens of protesters from the library, but it is unclear how many are facing charges.
Columbia officials said two public safety officers were injured in an encounter with demonstrators. It's unknown at this time if there were any other injuries.
In a statement, NYC Mayor Eric Adams said the NYPD was asked by Columbia to remove trespassers.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a post on social media that she has been briefed on the situation and is "grateful to public safety officials for keeping students safe."
"Everyone has the right to peacefully protest. But violence, vandalism or destruction of property are completely unacceptable," she wrote.
What happened at Columbia's Butler LibraryThe start of the incident was captured on video, which shows protesters storming the library Wednesday afternoon, occupying one of the building's rooms and vandalizing property.
A university spokesperson said the school's public safety team quickly responded. According to the university, protesters were asked to show their IDs and disperse. The university said protesters' identification "will be recorded."
By early evening, however, no protesters had chosen to identify themselves and leave, the university said. Protesters were told failure to comply may result in arrests, the school said, though other people who were in the library but not involved in the protest were allowed to leave.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with Columbia University public safety officers after occupying part of the main library on campus on May 7, 2025.
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A short time later, first responders were seen taking someone out of the library on a stretcher, and a fire alarm was heard going off in the building.
As the protest was going on inside, a large crowd of protesters gathered outside the library, apparently trying to push their way into the building.
Acting Columbia University President Claire Shipman said two Columbia public safety officers were injured "during a crowd surge when individuals attempted to force their way into the building and into Room 301."
Demonstrations outside campus also intensified with protesters and police pushing each other with barricades.
Columbia University requested help from the New York City Police Department to clear pro-Palestinian demonstrators out of the campus library on May 7, 2025.
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Around 7 p.m., Shipman released a statement saying the university had requested the NYPD's help.
"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," she wrote, in part.
She added, "Requesting the presence of the NYPD is not the outcome we wanted, but it was absolutely necessary to secure the safety of our community."
While the NYPD were seen removing dozens of people, it wasn't immediately clear how many of them have been formally arrested or are facing charges.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia UniversityThe protests took place while the school is in a pre-final exams reading week.
"While this is isolated to one room in the library, it is completely unacceptable that some individuals are choosing to disrupt academic activities as our students are studying and preparing for final exams. These disruptions of our campus and academic activities will not be tolerated. Individuals found to be in violation of University Rules and policies will face disciplinary consequences. We ask our community members to please avoid the immediate area near Butler Library in the near term," a university spokesperson said, in part.
Student Eden Yadegar was studying for exams in the library when the protesters arrived and was stunned by their actions.
"All of a sudden, I was walking through the lobby and a group of a few dozen who I would assume are students, covered in masks and hoodies and whatnot, stormed through the entrance," she said. "They were hanging up banners all throughout the room, including one that pictured the state of Israel and said, 'There is only one state,' something like that, and overall just causing a disturbance."
A recent Columbia guideline states, "Individuals who engage in protests or demonstrations who wear face masks or face coverings must present their University identification when asked." The guideline was announced as part of the new policies enacted under the Trump administration's demands.
Columbia University has been in the crosshairs of the Trump administration in the wake of last year's pro-Palestinian campus protests, threatening to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding if certain changes weren't implemented at the school. Two prominent student activists were also arrested by federal immigration authorities, Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi.
Mayor Adams on Columbia protestsMayor Eric Adams posted this statement on social media:
"At the written request of Columbia University, the NYPD is entering the campus to remove individuals who are trespassing.
"As I've said repeatedly, New York City will always defend the right to peaceful protest, but we will never tolerate lawlessness. 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.
"To parents of students protesting: call your children and make clear that breaking the law is wrong and they should exit the building immediately. To those protesting on campus who do not attend Columbia: exit the campus immediately or you will be arrested. We will not tolerate hate or violence in any form in our city."
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Ali Bauman