Palestine protestors occupy Barnard building after students expelled

A group of pro-Palestinian protestors occupied a building at a prestigious university to demand an “amnesty” for two expelled student activists.

The pair were kicked out after disrupting a lecture on modern Israeli history at Columbia University and were members of the Apartheid Divest activist group.

Video posted to social media showed masked students refusing to leave the classroom and handing out flyers bearing the slogan “crush Zionism”, accompanied by an image of a star of David being stepped on by a combat boot.

The footage prompted a significant backlash, with Brian Cohen, executive director of Columbia Barnard Hillel, accusing the group of “harassment” of Jewish students.

Barnard College, a women’s liberal art college tied to Columbia, would not comment on the individual case, but said: “When rules are broken, when there is no remorse, no reflection and no willingness to change, we must act.

"Expulsion is always an extraordinary measure, but so, too, is our commitment to respect, inclusion and the integrity of the academic experience.”

However, a group of keffiyeh-clad activists took over Maynard Hall, an administrative building on Barnard’s campus, on Wednesday, calling for an “immediate reversal” to the expulsions.

The group's demands included a reversal of the expulsions and the 'abolition' of the disciplinary process (Image: X)[Missing Credit]

The group’s list of demands also included an “amnesty” for all students facing disciplinary action over what it termed “pro-Palestine action or thought” and the “abolition of the corrupt Barnard disciplinary process”.
It added: “Disruption until divestment, resistance until return, agitation until amnesty.

"We will not stop until our demands are met. Free Palestine.”

The NYPD confirmed to JNS that it had received a report of assault in the area of the occupation, with a 41-year-old man complaining of being shoved my “numerous individuals”.

The force did not confirm whether this was directly related to the protest and said no arrests had been made, with investigations ongoing.

But Robin Levine, a senior Barnard administrator, told JNS: “A small group of masked protesters forcibly entered Milbank Hall and physically assaulted a Barnard employee, sending them to the hospital”.

The protesters also “encouraged others to enter campus without identification, showing blatant disregard for the safety of our community,” Levine claimed.

He added: “We have made multiple good-faith efforts to de-escalate. Barnard leadership offered to meet with the protesters, just as we meet with all members of our community, on one simple condition: remove their masks. They refused. We have also offered mediation.”

Several hours later, Barnard President Laura Rosenbury announced: “Tonight, a small group of masked protesters attempted to undermine Barnard’s core values of respect, inclusion and academic excellence.”

“Thanks to the efforts of our staff and faculty, the protesters have now left Milbank Hall without further incident.

"But let us be clear: their disregard for the safety of our community remains completely unacceptable.”