Context:

Columbia University experienced a disruption when pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Butler Library, demanding the university divest from companies linked to Israel and rename the library after a Palestinian activist. University safety officers confronted the protesters, blocking and shoving them away from the library doors, leading to chaotic scenes captured on video. The university condemned the protest for disrupting academic activities, especially as students prepared for their final exams. Despite the protest's intensity, the New York Police Department was aware but not actively involved in handling the situation. The protest's calls for divestment and renaming reflect broader tensions and demands within the student body, although not all participants were confirmed to be affiliated with specific campus groups.

Dive Deeper:

• Columbia University faced a protest inside Butler Library where pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered to demand divestment from companies associated with Israel, causing a disruption two days before final exams.

• The university's public safety team intervened as the protest escalated, blocking and shoving demonstrators from the library doors, leading to a tense confrontation caught on video.

• Protesters sought to rename the library the 'Basel Al-Araj Popular University' in honor of a Palestinian activist who died in 2017, highlighting their demands for institutional change.

• The university issued a statement condemning the protest for interrupting academic activities, emphasizing that such disruptions were unacceptable, especially during exam preparation.

• While the protest was confined to one room, it drew attention from the New York Police Department, though they chose not to intervene, allowing the university to handle the situation internally.

• The protest reflects ongoing tensions and activism on campus related to the Middle East conflict, with calls for divestment and renaming pointing to broader political and social issues.

• Uncertainty remains regarding the affiliations of all participants with specific campus groups, as the university seeks more information on the demonstrators involved.