Columbia Arrests and the Message from Claire Shipman

Columbia did a better job handling the pro-Hamas activists on campus yesterday than it has previously. In the evening nearly 80 students who had refused to identify themselves were arrested. I wanted to follow up on a few loose threads. 

NYPD now arresting student protestors from Columbia University library @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/DtR1qEPzT9

— Ali Bauman (@AliBaumanTV) May 7, 2025

Hopefully, at some point during booking, the headscarves were removed and mugshots were taken of all of them. 

More arrests, lots of them:pic.twitter.com/BdHCfKXJXT

— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) May 8, 2025

This guy is fighting with security the whole way out.

To everyone claiming NYPD intervention was “unwarranted”—what do you expect @Columbia to do when protesters endanger their peers? This wasn’t a peaceful demonstration. As Public Safety officers tried to remove this man from the premises, he lunged at me.

They could barely… pic.twitter.com/cNqEkIZIto

— Shoshana Aufzien🎗️ (@shoshanaaufzien) May 8, 2025

While the group inside the library was being arrested, the mob who were outside the library moved off campus and into the street. 

NOW: Pro-Palestine protesters form human chain as they chant outside of Columbia University where at least 79 people have been arrested after occupying the Butler Library. pic.twitter.com/4RujpnYgjn

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 8, 2025

They spent some time scuffling with police.

Altercations between police and protesters outside Columbia University as SRG officers have entered campus library at request of school president @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/p5QvPtXglC

— Ali Bauman (@AliBaumanTV) May 7, 2025

As night fell, NYPD buses full of arrested “activists” rolled out.

Altercations between police and protesters outside Columbia University as SRG officers have entered campus library at request of school president @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/p5QvPtXglC

— Ali Bauman (@AliBaumanTV) May 7, 2025

Yesterday, I pointed out that after failing to force their way into the building, students called for a mediator. They then ushered this professor Joe Howley (green shirt) to the front.

JUST NOW: protesters @Columbia asked for “faculty mediators to deescalate” – a ridiculous ask given that they are the escalators…

Nevertheless, Prof. Joe Howley, a known supporter of this movement, showed up and tried to enter the library. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/ySp3sNzP6z

— Elisha (Lishi) Baker (@LishiBaker) May 7, 2025

It turns out he’s not just some random professor. He’s apparently been a supporter of the pro-Hamas mob for some time.

Hey Professor Joesph Howley @hashtagoras,

Thanks for making it so apparent that you are either too brainwashed or too delusional or both to realize the gravity of the situation.

See the last time you sported your orange vest to “de-escalate” the situation, Hamilton Hall was… pic.twitter.com/lT6dKUOlTQ

— Documenting Jew Hatred on Campus at Columbia U (@CampusJewHate) May 8, 2025

As of this morning, things are back to normal. The library has been restored to its pre-vandal condition.

The main reading room at @Columbia Butler Library today at 8AM.
Amazing work by the Facilities & Operation, and library teams who spent the night cleaning up the mess. pic.twitter.com/3n5I1gnzYo

— Gil Zussman (@gil_zussman) May 8, 2025

And the protesters have all been released pending charges.

THANK YOU TO THE DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP AND STAYED OVERNIGHT IN LOVE AND SOLIDARITY FOR OUR ARRESTED COMRADES

WE KEEP US SAFE AND PROTECTED. ALWAYS! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WOCSPp4Tw7

— CU Apartheid Divest (CUAD) (@ColumbiaBDS) May 8, 2025

Unfortunately, what often happens is we have these arrests and then weeks later some jackass DA decides to drop the charges against everyone involved. But that failure isn’t on Columbia. Yesterday they did about the best they could do under the circumstances. They didn’t let the activists get away with it and didn’t let them leave without identifying themselves, even when a fire alarm was pulled.

Instead of relying on prosecutors or even Sec. Marco Rubio to handle this, they ought to just get the names of everyone arrested and suspend all of them for a year. They wanted to ruin finals week for other students, so ruin finals week for them. No finishing this semester. No grades. And no housing if they live on campus. Make them pay to retake all of these classes a year from now. Or just expel them and be done with it.

Finally, here’s new President Claire Shipman giving a pretty good response to what happened. “The group involved tonight is less than one percent of our 36,000 person student body,” she said. She added, “We will get back to business, the business of teaching, learning, studying, researching.”

Yesterday’s building takeover put students, Public Safety, and the entire Columbia community at harm, and was completely unacceptable. Watch @Columbia Acting President Claire Shipman’s excellent statement on yesterday’s events in Butler Library here. pic.twitter.com/PPj1fOjZBo

— Columbia Jewish & Israeli Students ✡️🇮🇱 (@CUJewsIsraelis) May 8, 2025

Suspend or expel the activists involved. That’s the only way to put real accountability to work.