At approximately 3:15 pm on May 7, Butler 301 was occupied by Pro-Palestinian protesters, claiming to rename the library as Basel Al-Araj Popular University. Public Affairs notified the community of the protest one hour later, writing it will not be “tolerated.” Dozens of protesters were taken into custody by the NYPD starting around 7:30 pm.

“Over 100 people” have occupied Butler Library, according to Columbia University Apartheid Divest. At approximately 3:15 pm, Pro-Palestinian protesters pushed a Public Safety officer and entered Butler Library, bypassing the scanning system used. 

Protesters occupied the main reading room on the third floor of Butler Library, donning keffiyehs and Palestinian flags.

Public Affairs notified the Columbia community at approximately 4:42 pm of the “disruption,” stating “These disruptions of our campus and academic activities will not be tolerated” and threatening arrests and “disciplinary consequences.” 

Following the occupation, students who were not involved in the protest were allowed to leave. The individuals who are protesting, however, claimed, “We tried to leave, they won’t let us leave.” At approximately 5:21 pm, students outside chanted, “Let them out,” referring to the protesters inside Butler. Further, they chanted, “Israel bombs, Columbia pays, how many kids did you kill today?”

Inside, one faculty member approached the group after protesters requested a mediator, but they have since excused themselves. Outside on 114th and Broadway at approximately 5:31 pm, two NYPD officers are currently stationed, stating Columbia has requested them to “keep the peace.” Officers have not been asked to enter the University premises yet and are awaiting orders. 

As of 4:42 pm, no protesters have chosen to identify themselves. Individuals inside Butler claim that one student has been arrested. Bwog is unable to confirm this claim at this time.

At approximately 5:37 pm, individuals inside shouted to the outside audience, “The fire alarm just went off inside of Butler, and public safety will not let us evacuate.” Individuals inside Butler yelled at security to “Open the door.” Following this, individuals within the lobby left through the Emergency Exit. 

Allied Universal, Public Safety, and NYPD are currently stationed outside of the 535 Butler entrance. 

One student from inside shouted, “Columbia University is holding its students hostage. Once again, let us the fuck out.” Columbia Spectator later clarified that individuals were asked to show their ID before being allowed to leave Butler 301. Columbia University has not provided a comment further from their initial 4:41 pm statement.

Update made at 6:38 pm on Wednesday, May 7:

According to ABC 7, two individuals have been detained, and one individual has been escorted off campus.

Update made at 7:05 pm on Wednesday, May 7:

NYPD has blocked off 114th Street behind Butler, preventing individuals from entering the street. In a joint Instagram post, Columbia College and Engineering student councils stated they are “actively monitoring the situation” and provided an email template to send to professors asking for accommodations.

A group of protesters has exited the 116th and Broadway gates and is walking south down Broadway.

Update made at 9:11 pm on Wednesday, May 7:

Dozens of protesters have been escorted from Butler through the 114th exit starting at 7:26 pm. At approximately 7:06 pm, NYPD officers began gathering by the 114th Street Butler entrance. One or more officers entered the building. Around 20 minutes later, a group of protesters was arrested and escorted out of Butler Library and to a correctional bus on 114 St between Broadway and Amsterdam. Additional barricades were erected on 114th St, with individuals attempting to get on either side but being denied access by NYPD officers. Protesters chanted, “No justice, no peace, fuck these racist ass police,” and “Oink oink, piggy piggy, we gon’ make your lives shitty.”

At approximately 7:35 pm, Columbia University posted a statement from Acting President Claire Shipman on the Butler Library protests. President Shipman stated that due to the amount of protestors in and around campus, and “what we believe to be the significant presence of individuals not affiliated with the University,” Columbia has requested the NYPD to assist in securing the building, an action she called “absolutely necessary to secure the safety of our community.” She also stated that two Columbia Public Safety Officers were injured while protesters were attempting to “force their way” into Butler and Room 301. She concluded by condemning “violence on our campus, antisemitism and all forms of hate and discrimination.”

Update as of 11:02 pm on Wednesday, May 7:

In an update sent to the Columbia community, Columbia Public Safety announced that guest access for students and non-faculty staff will be suspended on Thursday, May 8. This includes all previously approved or pre-registered visitors, whose QR codes will no longer be valid at campus entry points.

Alumni access will also be suspended for the day, with no same-day entry permitted.

Only guests invited by faculty will be allowed to enter. Pre-registered faculty guests may still use their existing QR codes, while new faculty guest requests must be submitted via email to Columbia Public Safety.

At 11:04 p.m., Columbia College and Columbia Engineering issued a message acknowledging the impact of the “disruption in Butler Library, and subsequent disturbances in the neighborhood.” Students whose study plans or academic work were affected were encouraged to contact their advisers at the Berick Center for Student Advising. The message also emphasized that the University’s full range of academic, mental health, and spiritual resources remains available during this time.

Update made on 1:12 am on Thursday, May 8:

In the early hours of May 8, Claire Shipman addressed the Columbia community, condemning the “disruption” in Butler Library and announcing that Uris Hall would remain open overnight as an alternative study space.

Arrested protesters were transported to 1 Police Plaza. A spokesperson for the NYPD told Bwog that the exact number of individuals taken into custody could not be confirmed at this time.

Update made on 10:48 am on Thursday, May 8:

In a May 8 email, Barnard President Laura Rosenbury condemned the protest that occurred in Butler Library, stating it brought “fear and disorder” during reading period. She voiced support for Acting President Shipman’s actions to “restore order” and warned that Barnard students involved would face consequences. Rosenbury also shared updates on study spaces and counseling services, urging the community to uphold “respect, inclusivity, and academic excellence.”

Update made on 12:31 pm on Thursday, May 8:

In an email sent to the Columbia community, Claire Shipman has announced that Butler Library—including the third floor reading room previously occupied—has reopened following the May 7 protest. Shipman thanked the Libraries staff, Facilities staff, and Public Safety Officers for their “hard and compassionate work yesterday.” Since yesterday, videos have been circulated of Public Safety officers forcefully pushing individuals within the library onto the ground.

In a message to students, Interim Executive Vice President of University Life Melanie Bernitz acknowledged the protest in Butler Library, calling it both “distressing” and “inconvenient.” She noted that academic accommodations are available through instructors or advisors, support services like mental health counseling remain accessible, and Columbia Public Safety can assist students with retrieving belongings. Bernitz confirmed Butler has been cleaned and reopened, and encouraged students to prioritize wellbeing as the semester ends. Some students on campus reported to Bwog that their finals will carry on as usual, despite accommodations being requested due to yesterday’s events.

Email sent to the Columbia community from the Office of Public Affairs at 4:41 pm on Wednesday, May 7, 2025:

Unfortunately, the University is dealing with a disruption in reading room 301 of Butler Library. Columbia’s Public Safety Team is responding and working to mitigate the situation. Individuals have been asked for identification, which will be recorded, and asked to disperse. They have been told that failure to comply will result in violations of our rules and policies and possible arrest. No individuals who have been protesting in the reading room have chosen, at this point, to identify themselves and depart. Individuals who were not involved in the protest have been allowed to leave. While this is isolated to one room in the library, it is completely unacceptable that some individuals are choosing to disrupt academic activities as our students are studying and preparing for final exams. These disruptions of our campus and academic activities will not be tolerated. Individuals found to be in violation of University Rules and policies will face disciplinary consequences. We ask our community members to please avoid the immediate area near Butler Library in the near term.

Statement from Acting Columbia President Claire Shipman made on Wednesday, May 7, 2025:

I want to update the community on the latest information regarding the disruption at Butler Library. The individuals who disrupted activities in Butler Reading Room 301 still refuse to identify themselves and leave the building. Due to the number of individuals participating in the disruption inside and outside of the building, a large group of people attempting to force their way into Butler Library creating a safety hazard, and what we believe to be the significant presence of individuals not affiliated with the University, Columbia has taken the necessary step of requesting the presence of NYPD to assist in securing the building and the safety of our community.

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. These actions are outrageous.

Individuals participating in the Reading Room 301 disruption were repeatedly asked for identification and to leave, and were repeatedly told that failure to comply would result in violations of our rules and policies and possible arrest for trespassing. We have been clear from the outset about applying our protocols and advising participants of the potential consequences of not complying. Requesting the presence of the NYPD is not the outcome we wanted, but it was absolutely necessary to secure the safety of our community.

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. We will continue to keep our community apprised as the situation evolves.

Sincerely,

Claire Shipman
Acting President, Columbia University in the City of New York

Email to Columbia Community from Columbia Public Safety at 9:26 pm on Wednesday, May 7:

Dear members of the Columbia community:

There are changes to guest and alumni access to campus on Thursday, May 8.

• Guest access requested by students and non-faculty staff will be suspended. This includes guests that had been pre-registered and same-day access. QR codes previously sent to these guests are invalid and will not work for campus entry at the gates.

• Guests requested by faculty will have access to campus. Faculty guests previously pre-registered will be able to enter campus with the QR code already issued to them. New guest requests by faculty for May 8 should be emailed to cupublicsafety@facil.columbia.edu.

• Same-day alumni access will be suspended.

If you have any questions, please contact Public Safety at cupublicsafety@facil.columbia.edu.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Sincerely,

Columbia University Public Safety

Email to Columbia Engineering and Columbia College undergraduates at 11:05 pm on Wednesday, May 7:

Dear Students,

Today’s disruption in Butler Library, and subsequent disturbances in the neighborhood, have impacted study plans and exam preparations across our community – in addition to the more personal impacts felt by many.

If your academic work has been affected, we encourage you to reach out to your CSA adviser for guidance and support during this critical time of year. And, as always, the full resources of the University are open to you and we encourage you to seek whatever support you may need. A list of offices and contact information can be found below.

Please watch your email closely for additional information about academic support in the days ahead.

– Columbia College & Columbia Engineering
Resources for Students
Your advisers in the Berick Center for Student Advising can be reached for personal support by scheduling an appointment that is convenient for you.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) provides 24/7 phone support at 212.854.2878. Walk-in sessions for students experiencing high levels of distress are available from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday in Lerner 502.

Columbia Religious Life can be reached for spiritual counseling at religiouslife@columbia.edu or 212-854-2184. Earl Hall and Saint Paul’s Chapel are open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 8:30 p.m., for prayer and reflection.

The Office of the University Chaplain can be reached for counseling at 212-854-1474 or at eb3334@columbia.edu.

Professional staff in Residential Life are always available. Should you need support, Public Safety can connect you with the Residence Hall Director on-call.

The Nightline Peer Listening service is available from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. at 212-854-7777 if you need help finding resources or simply someone to talk to.

Email to the Columbia Community from the Office of Public Affairs at 12:40 am on Thursday, May 8:

Dear members of the Columbia community:

Earlier today, a group of protesters occupied one of the main reading rooms in Butler library, refusing to leave, and another group breached the front door causing substantial chaos—all of this as the bulk of our students are working hard to prepare for exams. These actions not only represented a violation of University policies, but they also posed a serious risk to our students and campus safety. We had no choice but to ask for the assistance of the NYPD, and I’m grateful for their help and professionalism, as well as that of our Public Safety team. Let me be clear, what happened today, what I witnessed, was utterly unacceptable.

I spent the late afternoon and evening at Butler Library, as events were unfolding, to understand the situation on the ground and to be able to make the best decisions possible. I arrived to see one of our Public Safety officers wheeled out on a gurney and another getting bandaged. As I left hours later, I walked through the reading room, one of the many jewels of Butler Library, and I saw it defaced and damaged in disturbing ways and with disturbing slogans. Violence and vandalism, hijacking a library—none of that has any place on our campus. These aren’t Columbia’s values.

Let me be clear: Columbia unequivocally rejects antisemitism and all other forms of harassment and discrimination. And we certainly reject a group of students—and we don’t yet know whether there were outsiders involved—closing down a library in the middle of the week before finals and forcing 900 students out of their study spaces, many leaving belongings behind. Our commitment to a safe, inclusive, and respectful campus community is unshakeable, and we will continue to act decisively to uphold these values.

Let me also make clear, our administration spent substantial time working to diffuse the situation in multiple ways, through Public Safety and Delegate visits to the students, scenes I witnessed firsthand. The students were told they simply needed to identify themselves and then leave, but most refused. I worked with professors who generously came to have the same conversations. I am enormously grateful for the many people we have in our community, our Public Safety officers, our faculty, our staff, and my team, who work so hard to make Columbia what we know it can be and should be for our community. I also made sure to be present when the police arrived; I wanted to see for myself how the operation would unfold, and I’m grateful that it was orderly, professional, and extremely limited, with a focus on the students who refused to leave the reading room.

I am particularly heartbroken, and incensed, that this disruption occurred when our students are intensely focused on critical academic work. At a moment when our community deserves calm and the opportunity to study, reflect, and complete the academic year successfully, these actions created unnecessary stress and danger. I have seen how much our community wants to take back our narrative, to do what they came to Columbia  to do—learn, thrive, and grow—not take over a library. Moreover, I am deeply disturbed at the idea that, at a moment when our international community feels particularly vulnerable, a small group of students would choose to make our institution a target.

We, at Columbia, value freedom of speech, robust debate, and peaceful protest. Today’s disruption of Butler Library was not that. We must, and we will, come together as a community to consider what civil disobedience actually is and what it means. We need to recognize that when rules are violated, when a community is disrupted for the sake of a few, that is a considered choice—one with real consequences. There is a clear line between legitimate protest and actions that endanger others and disrupt the fundamental work of the University. Today that line was crossed, and I have confidence the disciplinary proceedings will reflect the severity of the actions.

I am working with the Provost and University Life to ensure any affected students receive the support and resources they need. We have opened a new study space at Uris that will be available overnight for students.

Let me also say this. I’ve received many messages from concerned parents. The group involved less than one percent of our 36,000-person student body. Their actions had a disproportionate impact.

This is the last kind of message I want to be delivering tonight. But Columbia’s strength lies in our resilience. We are strong, we are determined, and we will not let this moment define us. I have heard consistently from our community that we are ready to pull together, to fight for the value of Columbia. So, we will get back to business. Our real business. The business of teaching, learning, studying, and researching. We have an incredible Commencement to look forward to and finals to prepare for. We will move forward together to show the world the best of Columbia.

Sincerely,

Claire Shipman

Acting President, Columbia University in the City of New York

Email to the Barnard Community from Barnard President Laura Rosenbury at 10:14 am on Thursday, May 8:

Dear Members of the Barnard Community, 

Yesterday, a group of masked protesters stormed into Butler Library on Columbia’s campus, disrupting students studying for finals during our reading period.  The protesters refused to identify themselves and disperse, bringing fear and disorder into this cherished academic space. 

Barnard is focused on teaching and learning of the highest caliber.  Although we are separate from Columbia, our special relationship benefits students at both institutions, and we are united by a shared commitment to academic excellence and to protecting the sanctity of the academic experience.

I commend Acting President Shipman for taking the action necessary to restore order so that students are able to focus on their academic work.  Please know that if any Barnard students participated in yesterday’s disruption, we will take appropriate action. 

Many Barnard students rely on Butler Library, especially during reading period and over finals, and the library has now reopened thanks to the dedicated, overnight efforts of Columbia’s facilities team.  Our library in the Milstein Center is also open for extended hours.  For those looking for additional study spaces, we offer the following: 

• The LeFrak Theatre in Barnard Hall is open to all students, and tables are available for quiet study.
• Classrooms that are not already reserved for study sessions also will be open throughout campus. The full list is available here. 

For students seeking support, the Furman Counseling Center will continue to offer drop-in hours today and tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The after hours line with counselors is also available starting at 4:00 p.m., by calling (855) 204-1920.

In the final weeks of the academic year, we must remain committed to supporting one another and to upholding the values of our community: respect, inclusivity, and academic excellence.   

Laura

Email to the Columbia Community from the Office of Public Affairs at 9:51 am on Thursday, May 8:

Dear members of the Columbia community:

As we move into finals tomorrow, I’d like to let our faculty and students know about a few important updates.Butler Library is now open to students, and the third floor reading room—with thanks to the efforts of a large and dedicated overnight facilities team—is restored and ready for use. Uris was open and well used last night, with a steady stream of hardworking, appreciative students. Butler will, as is usual, remain open overnight this evening, and we will have normal operations across all other libraries today.

A special thanks to our dedicated Libraries staff, Facilities team, and our Public Safety Officers for their hard and compassionate work yesterday. I am so appreciative of the late-night, common-sense efforts to get students to our new overnight study location and retrieve people’s belongings from Butler.

It’s a crucial academic moment for students, and while we are back to the important, core work of our academic institution today, I also know some in our community will need additional support. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need any support in the days ahead from your academic Dean or others; health resources and counseling services on all campuses can be accessed 24/7 and links are listed below. 

Thank you, again, for your resilience, and best of luck to all of our students as finals begin. I look forward to seeing members of our community on campus today.

 Sincerely,

Claire Shipman

Acting President, Columbia University in the City of New York

Email to the Columbia Community from at 9:51 am on Thursday, May 8:

Dear students,

We know that yesterday’s disruption in Butler Library occurred at an especially important time in the semester, as many of you are preparing for finals or wrapping up your coursework. We recognize that the disruption was not only inconvenient but also distressing for many.

The University takes this disruption seriously and remains committed to supporting every student affected by the events in Butler and the broader concerns impacting our community. 

Academic Support: If you were impacted and need accommodations for assignments, exams, or class attendance, we encourage you to connect with your instructors and/or advisors.

Campus Resources: A list of support services – including mental health resources, advising, and more – is included below.

Personal Belongings: If you had to leave materials behind in Butler Library and haven’t yet retrieved them, Columbia Public Safety is available to help.

Thanks to the work of University staff, Butler Library has been fully cleaned and is now open for use.

We will continue doing everything we can to support you during this time. Please take care of yourselves and one another as we approach the end of the academic year.

Sincerely,

Melanie J. Bernitz (she/her/hers)

Interim Executive Vice President, University Life

Senior Vice President, Columbia Health

Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine (in the Center for Family and Community Medicine)

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to clarify that students were only permitted to exit Butler 301 if they identified themselves and to clarify the time of each event.

Authored by Madeline Douglas

Maggie Aufmuth and Bwog Staff contributed reporting

Header image via Bwog Staff