Lana Oconnell
Columbia University has a history of student protests, with the most recent one occurring in May 2025, when pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the main library, causing the university to call the NYPD, resulting in the arrest of dozens of protesters. The protest was sparked by the suspension of students allegedly involved in previous pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The university's response, praised by the White House, was criticised by advocacy groups as an attempt to appease the Trump administration, which had threatened to withhold funding from universities tolerating antisemitism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of protest | 11 October (planned), 12 October 2023 |
| Number of protesters | Hundreds |
| Location | Outside the university's main entrance on 116th Street, Morningside campus, Butler Library |
| Protesters | Pro-Palestinian students, SJP, JVP, Columbia University Apartheid Divest |
| Demands | Not explicitly mentioned |
| Actions | Student walkout, die-in, occupation of the library |
| Counter-protesters | Students Supporting Israel (SSI), supporters of Israel |
| Police intervention | NYPD arrested dozens of protesters |
| Injuries | Two university security officers injured |
| Suspension | SJP and JVP |
| University actions | Restricted access to its Morningside campus to Columbia University ID holders only, revised policies to regulate the time, place and manner of certain forms of public expression |
| Support | SJP chapters at the University of North Carolina, Boston University, and Ohio State University, as well as the Harvard College Palestine Solidarity Committee at Harvard University |
| Opposition | Trump administration, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio |
| Related issues | Allegations of antisemitism, civil rights and university policy violations, harassment and abuse of Jewish students |
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What You'll Learn
Pro-Palestinian protests in 2025
Pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University in 2025 have seen a large number of students take part, with estimates ranging from dozens to hundreds. The protests have been met with a heavy-handed response from university authorities and the New York Police Department (NYPD), resulting in the arrest and suspension of numerous students.
On May 7, 2025, pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University staged a demonstration inside the campus's main library, Butler Library. The protesters, many wearing masks and keffiyeh headscarves, chanted slogans such as "Intifada revolution" and "from the river to the sea," interpreted as calling for the destruction of Israel. The university's acting president, Claire Shipman, described the protesters as forcing their way into the library, causing "substantial chaos" and posing a risk to students and campus safety. In response, Columbia University officials requested assistance from the NYPD, resulting in the arrest of dozens of protesters. More than 70 protesters were arrested, according to reports, while over 65 Columbia students were placed on interim suspension.
The protest on May 7 reignited anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia University and sparked confrontations between pro-Palestinian protesters and students and security forces. The university's response to the protest has been praised by the White House and the Trump administration's antisemitism task force, which had previously criticized Columbia's handling of pro-Palestinian protests and cut research funding. However, advocacy groups such as the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American-Islamic Relations criticized the university's decision to involve the NYPD, arguing that it was intended to appease the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestine activists.
The pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University in 2025 are part of a broader wave of demonstrations against Israel's war in Gaza that swept college campuses in the previous year. Columbia University, in particular, was the epicenter of these protests, and it continues to face threats of funding cuts and other repercussions from the US government. The university has agreed to some demands from the Trump administration, such as a ban on face masks at protests, but tensions remain high as pro-Palestinian protest activity increases again on campuses across the US.
In addition to the protests at Columbia University, there have been demonstrations at other universities in solidarity with the pro-Palestinian movement. Chapters of the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group at the University of North Carolina, Boston University, and Ohio State University, as well as the Harvard College Palestine Solidarity Committee at Harvard University, have all held rallies and expressed support for the Columbia protesters. The protests have also included speeches from prominent figures such as anti-Zionist political scientist and activist Norman Finkelstein.
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Protesting US support for Israel
Columbia University has been the site of several student protests over the years, with a recent wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations taking place on campus. These protests have been in response to US support for Israel and the war in Gaza, with students demanding an end to investments in companies complicit in human rights abuses. While the exact number of students involved in the protests is unclear, reports indicate that dozens of protesters were arrested by the New York Police Department, and over 70 protesters were arrested for occupying part of the main library at Columbia University.
The protests have sparked debates about antisemitism and free speech on college campuses. Jewish students at Columbia have expressed varying perspectives, with some suing the university over allegations of civil rights violations and a hostile environment for supporters of Israel. Others have joined the pro-Palestinian protests, arguing that their activism is driven by their faith and a commitment to ending genocide. The university administration has also been criticised for its handling of the protests, with some accusing them of being too lenient, while others claim they are targeting Jewish protesters and limiting free speech.
In response to the protests, Columbia University's administration implemented new guidelines to regulate the time, place, and manner of public expressions on campus. These measures were met with opposition from student organisers, who vowed to continue their activism until their demands were met. The protests at Columbia University reflect a broader trend of pro-Palestinian activism on US college campuses, with demonstrations and rallies occurring at other institutions as well.
The protests have also drawn attention from political figures, including former US President Trump, who threatened to withhold federal funding from universities tolerating antisemitism. In March 2025, Columbia agreed to demands from the Trump administration, including a ban on face masks at protests and changes to academic programme oversight. However, the decision to accept these demands was met with legal pushback from faculty members.
Amidst the protests, Columbia University senior Maryam Alwan faced investigation by a new disciplinary committee for writing an Op-Ed in the student newspaper calling for divestment from Israel. Dozens of other students also received notices for expressing support for Palestinians on social media and joining protests. These investigations were conducted by the university's Office of Institutional Equity, which interpreted criticism of Israel as potential harassment under the updated university policies.
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Student suspensions
Columbia University has a long history of student protests, with students having protested against the Vietnam War, US involvement in South Africa, and more recently, in support of Palestine and against US support for Israel.
In 1968, over 700 students occupied five buildings on campus, including Hamilton Hall, and held the acting dean of Columbia College, Henry Coleman, hostage for over 24 hours. 73 students were suspended from Columbia after the protests. In 1972, 48 students were charged after occupying several buildings, with only three being convicted at a disciplinary hearing. In 1985, about 300 students blockaded Hamilton Hall for about three weeks, demanding that Columbia University divest from its investments in South Africa-related companies. 54 student protesters received a sentence of one semester of disciplinary warning.
More recently, in 2023, Columbia suspended SJP and JVP, citing a violation of university rules after an "unauthorized event": a student walkout and die-in on November 9. The suspension was due to revised policies that gave the administration the right to "regulate the time, place and manner of certain forms of public expression" without input from the University Senate. In 2025, there were more protests at Columbia, with dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested after occupying part of the main library. More than 65 Columbia students were on interim suspension pending further investigation after the protest.
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Student walkouts
Columbia University has a long history of student protests, some of which have involved student walkouts. One notable example occurred in April 1968, when over 700 students participated in a sit-in and occupied several buildings on campus, including Hamilton Hall, to protest the US government's involvement in the Vietnam War and other civil rights issues. This protest led to the arrest and discipline of many students.
In more recent times, Columbia University has been at the centre of protests against the war in Gaza and US support for Israel. In May 2025, there were reports of a large pro-Palestinian demonstration at the university's main library, with protesters occupying the building and chanting slogans. This protest resulted in the arrest of dozens of individuals by the NYPD, with the university's administration taking a more assertive stance to satisfy critics of its previous handling of protests.
Prior to this, in November 2023, a student walkout and die-in were organised by pro-Palestinian student groups SJP and JVP, which led to their suspension by the university administration. The suspension was based on allegations of antisemitic epithets and violations of university policies. However, the claim of antisemitic rhetoric was later debunked by journalists, and the university faced lawsuits from both Jewish and pro-Palestinian students alleging civil rights violations.
In terms of the number of students involved in the recent protests, specific figures for walkouts are not readily available. However, it is estimated that during the May 2025 library protest, around 80 pro-Palestinian protesters were taken into custody, with over 65 Columbia students placed on interim suspension. Additionally, during an earlier protest in October 2025, hundreds of Columbia affiliates gathered for an SJP-JVP protest, indicating a substantial student presence.
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Police involvement
Columbia University has a history of student protests, with one of the most recent ones being the pro-Palestinian protests during the Gaza war. The university's administration has been criticised for its handling of these protests, particularly in its decision to involve the police.
In May 2025, pro-Palestinian protesters occupied part of the main library at Columbia University, leading to the arrest of dozens of protesters by the New York Police Department (NYPD). The university called for police assistance after protesters forced their way into Butler Library, resulting in injuries to two university security officers. Acting University President Claire Shipman described the protesters' actions as "outrageous" and causing "substantial chaos". She also mentioned that the reading room of the library was defaced and damaged. The exact number of protesters arrested is unclear, with reports ranging from dozens to 80 individuals.
The involvement of the NYPD in the protest sparked criticism from advocacy groups such as the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. They argued that the university's decision to involve the police was influenced by its desire to appease the Trump administration, which had threatened to withhold federal funding from universities that failed to address allegations of antisemitism on their campuses. Columbia University had already lost research funding due to its handling of previous protests, and the Trump administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism praised Shipman's "strong and resolute" response to the library occupation.
The Columbia University administration's decision to involve the police in the pro-Palestinian protests stands in contrast to its hands-off approach during the 2024 protests. The shift in approach can be attributed to the university's efforts to restore federal funding and improve its reputation in addressing antisemitism allegations.
The police involvement in the 2025 pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University highlights the complex dynamics between universities, student activism, and government intervention. While the university administration prioritised campus safety and security, critics argued that the involvement of law enforcement infringed on students' rights to freedom of expression and assembly. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding the role of universities in addressing social and political issues.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear exactly how many students were involved in the 2025 Columbia University protests, but reports suggest that dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested.
Yes, Students Supporting Israel (SSI) held a rally with around 100 people in attendance.
Yes, several supporters of Israel counter-protested the SJP-JVP demonstration.
The university asked for police assistance after protesters occupied the main library, causing "substantial chaos" and "posing a serious risk to students and campus safety".
Yes, in 1968, over 700 students occupied five buildings on campus, holding the acting dean of Columbia College hostage for over 24 hours.
