Anti-Israel Protesters Take Over Barnard College Building, Assault Employee
Dozens of anti-Israel protesters took over a building at Barnard College in New York City on Wednesday night, allegedly assaulting a college employee in the process.
The demonstration was sparked by the recent expulsion of two Columbia University students, whose actions during an Israeli history class included disrupting the lecture and distributing pro-Hamas materials.
Videos posted by Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine showed masked individuals wearing keffiyehs, chanting on megaphones, and banging drums. The group declared, “WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL OUR DEMANDS ARE MET. FREE PALESTINE.” Demands included the “immediate reversal of the two Barnard students’ expulsions” along with amnesty for all students disciplined for pro-Palestinian activism and the abolition of Barnard’s disciplinary system.
Barnard College Vice President for Strategic Communications Robin Levine confirmed that a college employee was assaulted and required hospitalization.
“They encouraged others to enter campus without identification, showing blatant disregard for the safety of our community,” Levine said in a statement, adding that protesters had until 9:30 pm to leave or face disciplinary action.
Levine stated that Barnard officials attempted to de-escalate the situation and offered mediation, but the protesters refused. According to Fox News, most demonstrators left the building by 11 pm.
Barnard President Laura Rosenbury issued a statement to CNN where she said that the college cannot comment on individual students’ records, but “as a matter of principle and policy, Barnard will always take decisive action to protect our community as a place where learning thrives, individuals feel safe, and higher education is celebrated.”
“When rules are broken, when there is no remorse, no reflection, and no willingness to change, we must act,” Rosenbury said. “Expulsion is always an extraordinary measure, but so too is our commitment to respect, inclusion, and the integrity of the academic experience.”
