Columbia suspends anti-Israel agitators after takeover, spreading of pamphlets glorifying alleged terrorist
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Columbia University has temporarily suspended 65 students after anti-Israel agitators took over a campus building and handed out pamphlets that glorified an alleged terrorist this week.

The protesters stormed into Columbia University’s Butler Library on Wednesday evening, claiming to have renamed the building “Basel Al-Araj Popular University.” According to the NYPD, 80 arrests were made, with 19 males and 61 females being taken into custody by police. Seventy-eight of those individuals were issued a desk appearance ticket for criminal trespass, and the other two arrested protesters were issued a summons.

Pamphlets on the ground a Columbia University

Protesters at Columbia University handed out a pamphlet that glorified an alleged terrorist. (Fox News)

Homeland Security Investigations is requesting fingerprints and the names of those arrested to check their visa status.

In addition to the student suspensions, Columbia has also barred an unspecified number of alumni from campus, and 33 others from affiliated institutions.

Claire Shipman, Columbia’s acting president, said in a statement Wednesday the NYPD was called to help “secure” the library. She added that two university police officers were injured.

“Sadly, during the course of this disruption, two of our Columbia Public Safety Officers sustained injuries during a crowd surge when individuals attempted to force their way into the building and into Room 301,” Shipman said. “These actions are outrageous.”

In a separate statement, Shipman called out the library takeover as unacceptable.

Columbia University protest

Protest stickers were put on the doors at Butler Library on Columbia University’s campus on May 7, 2025 in New York City. Pro-Palestinian protesters held a demonstration inside the Butler Library on Columbia University’s campus, disrupting finals week. ( Indy Scholtens/Getty Images)

“Disruptions to our academic activities will not be tolerated and are violations of our rules and policies; this is especially unacceptable while our students study and prepare for final exams. Columbia strongly condemns violence on our campus, antisemitism and all forms of hate and discrimination, some of which we witnessed today. We are resolute that calls for violence or harm have no place at our University,” Shipman said.

Fox News’ Greg Wehner, Alexis McAdams, Jennifer Johnson, Louis Casiano and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.

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