Columbia University Erupts in Chaos as Anti-Israel Protesters Storm Butler Library; Dozens Arrested

Tensions flared at Columbia University on Wednesday afternoon as more than 100 masked anti-Israel protesters forcibly entered Butler Library, prompting a swift response from law enforcement and igniting fresh controversy on the Ivy League campus already reeling from months of unrest, Fox News reports.

According to New York Police Department (NYPD) sources, over 80 individuals—all confirmed to be Columbia students—were arrested following the breach. The protest, which disrupted students preparing for final exams, escalated when demonstrators bypassed university security and occupied parts of the library, chanting pro-Palestinian slogans and renaming the building the “Basel Al-Araj Popular University.”

In response to the occupation, Columbia officials called in the NYPD, citing safety concerns. Two Columbia Public Safety officers were injured during the confrontation. Acting University President Claire Shipman condemned the takeover, calling it “outrageous” and saying the NYPD’s involvement was “absolutely necessary to secure the safety of our community.”

University personnel, supported by public safety officers, reportedly prevented protesters from exiting the building without presenting ID cards, reinforcing the administration’s resolve to uphold campus regulations amid growing disorder.

The federal government is also closely monitoring the situation. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed it is reviewing the immigration status of those arrested to determine whether any non-citizens could face visa revocations.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a sharp warning:

“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.”

The latest protest is seen as a show of support for Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate and central figure in the university’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Khalil was arrested last month and had his green card and student visa revoked, according to his attorney. He is currently being held in an ICE detention facility in Louisiana.

The Wednesday protest appears to be a continuation of campus unrest that has intensified since October 2023, when violence erupted in Gaza following Hamas’ attack on Israel. Columbia had previously warned that it would dismantle encampments and enforce arrests to prevent a repeat of last year’s takeover of Hamilton Hall, which saw over 200 arrests.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams addressed the incident, affirming support for Jewish students and calling for law and order.

“We will not tolerate hate or violence in any form in our city,” Adams stated. “To those protesting on campus who do not attend Columbia: exit the campus immediately or you will be arrested.”

Meanwhile, Columbia is facing the financial fallout from federal scrutiny. In March, the Trump administration revoked $400 million in federal grants, citing the university’s failure to protect Jewish students. The school has since announced the potential layoff of 180 staff members whose work was tied to the affected funding.

The rising tension has drawn national political attention. Representative Lisa McClain (R-MI) criticized university leadership, arguing that no further investigation is needed to understand the root problem: “They have laws and they don’t follow them.” Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) praised Trump’s decision to withhold funding, writing, “Not a single taxpayer dollar should go to a university that allows chaos, antisemitism, and civil rights violations on its campus. Columbia must act—enough is enough.”

As protests show no signs of abating, Columbia administrators reiterated that while the university values freedom of expression, disruptions to academic life and violations of campus policy “will not be tolerated.”