Pro-Palestine Supporters Hit Barnard College Again, Storming the School’s Library
Protesters Take Over the Library
Concealing themselves behind face masks, hoods, and other head coverings, about 50 protestors loudly barged into the Milstein Library at the Columbia University-affiliated school just before 2 p.m. on March 5, according to law enforcement sources.
They repeatedly shouted, “Free Palestine!” as they circled the room, which was filled with students studying and reading. Nearby, students were in class, facilities were cleaning classrooms, and dining staff were preparing meals, according to a school statement.
Photos from the Protest
Pro-Palestine supporters protested at Barnard College, many of them wearing full face masks. Here, they are holding an effigy of college president Laura Ann Rosenbury.Photo by Dean Moses Pro-Palestine demonstrators protested at Barnard College, chanting “Free Palestine” and banging drums.Photo by Dean Moses
Bomb Threat Ends the Chaos
As the protesters took hold of the library, Barnard College reportedly received a bomb threat just before 5 p.m. on March 6, leading to an order for all persons to evacuate the library. The reported threat prompted a massive response by the NYPD’s Strategic Response Team, which rushed onto the campus and began forcibly removing individuals who were occupied there.
However, NYPD also began pushing the media back from the sidewalk outside of the school, preventing journalists from viewing the ensuing chaos.
“What are you not wanting us to see?” one photojournalist could be heard asking as he was shoved back.
Inside the grounds, SRG reportedly wrestled with students, shoving some out of the gates and arresting others in the pouring rainfall. Cops in riot gear flooded every entry and exit point.
“Where is the bomb? Where is the threat?” a female student asked.
Cops then drove a van behind the school and looked to load the arrested students out of the view of the media while also looking to block sidewalks and roads.
In response to the incident, the NYPD released a statement: “The NYPD was present at the campus for a bomb threat. Individuals were given a lawful order to move to a safe distance. Multiple individuals who did not comply with the lawful order were taken into custody. Charges are pending.”
Reactions and Statements
Barnard is committed to fostering a safe environment where all students can learn and all members of our community are respected,” a statement from the school read. “Our academic mission is at the heart of what we do, and disruptions to that mission are an affront to the purpose of higher education and cannot be tolerated.”
Afaf Nasher, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, stated, “Barnard College’s expulsion of a student for protesting the genocide in Palestine is not just an attack on that student’s rights — it is part of a larger, systematic effort to silence and punish anyone who dares to speak out against Israeli apartheid and genocide.”
Conclusion
The recent events at Barnard College highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the strong emotions it evokes. While the protest may have been peaceful, the bomb threat and subsequent police response raised concerns about safety and the ability to maintain a peaceful environment on campus.
FAQs
* What happened during the protest?
+ The protest began with about 50 pro-Palestine supporters storming the library at Barnard College, where they chanted slogans and banged drums.
* What was the outcome of the protest?
+ The protest ended with a bomb threat being reported, leading to a massive police response and the arrest of several students.
* What was the reaction of the school?
+ Barnard College released a statement saying that it is committed to fostering a safe environment where all students can learn, but disruptions to that mission cannot be tolerated.
* What was the reaction of the Council on American-Islamic Relations?
+ The Council on American-Islamic Relations stated that the expulsion of a student for protesting the genocide in Palestine is part of a larger effort to silence and punish anyone who dares to speak out against Israeli apartheid and genocide.
