Pro-Palestinian protesters assault Barnard College employee during demonstration
- A group of pro-Palestinian protesters forcibly entered Milbank Hall at Barnard College, where they assaulted a school employee.
- This protest stemmed from discontent over the expulsion of two students for disrupting a Columbia class on Israeli history.
- Barnard College officials condemned the violence and confirmed the administration would be engaged in discussions following the incident.
In New York City, a protest occurred at Barnard College on Wednesday, marking a significant demonstration in relation to pro-Palestinian activism. A small group of protesters, reportedly wearing masks and kaffiyeh scarves, entered Milbank Hall and disrupted operations within, as they sought to address grievances regarding the expulsion of two students. This expulsion was linked to allegations that the students had disrupted a Columbia University class tackling Israeli history. The protest lasted for several hours and caused notable disruptions to classes and operations in the area. As tensions escalated during the protest, the group allegedly pushed past security and assaulted a school employee, sending that individual to the hospital. Barnard College officials condemned the protesters' actions, highlighting the danger posed to the community by encouraging others without identification to enter campus. Robin Levine, the college's Vice President for Strategic Communications, emphasized the unacceptable nature of the violence and intimidation demonstrated by the protesters. The violence erupted during an organized sit-in led by a protest group associated with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, as demonstrators demanded that the school reverse the expulsions, grant amnesty to disciplined students, and hold a public meeting with key administrative figures. As the protests unfolded, the college urged participants to communicate their issues openly and removed the protesters from the hall by nightfall. Barnard President Laura Rosenbury acknowledged the return to normalcy but reiterated the unacceptable behavior exhibited by the protesters during the event. Prior to this sit-in, Barnard had previously suspended more than 50 students for engaging in pro-Palestinian protests. The expulsion of the two students marked a notable incident as it was the first for any protest activity at Barnard or Columbia since 1968. The student group claimed they would not relent until all demands were met and posted updates detailing conversations and negotiation efforts with college officials via social media, revealing a growing friction between student activism and university governance issues.