chaos at columbia: dozens arrested after library takeover by anti-israel protesters

Over 80 arrested at Columbia University as anti-Israel protesters storm Butler Library during finals. ICE & NYPD involved.
๐ Columbia University in Crisis: Finals Week Turns into a Warzone of Protest and Police ๐๐ฅ
Columbia University — one of America’s most elite Ivy League institutions — has become the epicenter of a massive anti-Israel protest that turned chaotic this week. The iconic Butler Library was stormed by over 100 masked protesters, bringing studies to a halt and triggering a full-blown police crackdown. ๐ณ๐
Butler Library Taken Over: “Liberation Zone” Declared by Protesters โ๐ฃ
More than 100 agitators masked in keffiyehs and chanting “Free Palestine” and “Global Intifada” stormed the Butler Library, forcing their way past campus security on Wednesday, right in the middle of finals week.
Students trying to study were evacuated in fear. Flyers renamed the library as the “Basel Al-Araj Popular University” — signaling full protest occupation mode. ๐คฏ
๐ "Nobody comes in, nobody comes out," said Columbia’s security at the gates.
๐ฎโ๏ธ 80+ Arrested by NYPD ๐: Columbia Officials Call for Help After Tensions Explode ๐ฅ
Columbia University, overwhelmed by the scale of the protest, called in the NYPD to regain control. Officers entered the campus and arrested over 80 students for trespassing and disruption.
Two Columbia Public Safety officers were injured in the chaos as protesters surged through the library halls.
๐ “We had no choice,” said acting president Claire Shipman. “This was about community safety.”
๐ ICE Steps In: Foreign Protesters May Face Deportation โ๏ธโ
This wasn’t just a student protest. It quickly became a matter of national security.
ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) monitored the situation closely, ready to revoke visas and green cards of non-citizen protesters. ๐ณ
๐ "Time to make a point," an ICE source told Fox News.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that foreign students supporting terrorism or breaking U.S. laws would be deported. Columbia protesters are now under visa review.
๐ง๐ Meet the Ringleader: Mahmoud Khalil’s Arrest Sparks Rage ๐ค๐ฃ๏ธ
Much of the protest support centers around Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia grad who was arrested last month and had his green card and visa revoked. His capture by Homeland Security only added fuel to the protest fire.
Activists say Khalil’s arrest is an act of “political suppression.” Authorities say it’s about national security.
๐บ๐ธ Trump Steps In: $400 Million in Grants Canceled Over Columbia’s ‘Antisemitic Failure’ ๐ธ๐
Former President Donald Trump has slammed Columbia’s administration, accusing it of fostering “chaos, antisemitism, and civil rights violations.”
Earlier this year, Trump revoked $400 million in federal funding, citing the university’s failure to protect Jewish students. And now, 180 staff are being laid off due to the funding cuts. ๐ง
๐ฌ “Columbia must act—enough is enough,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik.
๐ฅ “No More Excuses”: Politicians Demand Consequences for Lawless Campuses ๐๏ธโ๏ธ
Mayor Eric Adams and Rep. Lisa McClain echoed nationwide anger, calling out Columbia for allowing lawlessness.
๐ฎ “If you're not a Columbia student — leave now, or be arrested,” Adams warned.
๐จ “We don't need more investigations. We need enforcement,” said McClain.
๐๏ธ Will There Be Another Encampment? Tensions Rise Over “Liberation Zones” โบ๐ชง
Students fear a repeat of last year’s unrest, when protesters took over Hamilton Hall and over 200 people were arrested in a dramatic NYPD raid.
Columbia officials say they won’t tolerate encampments, vowing to tear down tents immediately if they appear again.
๐ฌ Final Word: Is Columbia Losing Control of Its Campus? ๐งจ๐
From a place of academic excellence to a battleground of political ideologies — Columbia University now finds itself at the center of a national debate over free speech, student safety, and national security.
๐ What started as protest chants has turned into a storm of arrests, federal involvement, and global headlines.
๐ All eyes are now on Columbia:
โก๏ธ Will it protect academic integrity?
โก๏ธ Or will it continue to spiral into chaos?
Stay tuned. This story is far from over. ๐ฅ๐
#ColumbiaProtest #CampusChaos #FreePalestine #NYPDArrests #ICEInvolvement #TrumpVsColumbia #RapidNews #SayHieNews
๐ Want real-time updates like this? Follow Rapid News on SayHie for the latest from campus protests, politics, and beyond.