A group of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators staged a sit-in protest inside Milbank Hall at Barnard College in Manhattan on Wednesday, demanding the reversal of two student expulsions.
Why Were Students Protesting?
According to flyers distributed by the protesters, they refused to leave unless Barnard College reinstated two students who were expelled last week.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) stated that the expulsions stemmed from an incident in January when the two students allegedly intruded on an Israeli studies class and handed out anti-Zionist flyers—an act that the NYPD classified as a bias incident.
What Happened During the Protest?
Location: Milbank Hall, Barnard College, Manhattan
Start Time: Around 4 p.m.
- A couple dozen demonstrators entered Milbank Hall and began their sit-in protest.
- Masked protesters allegedly assaulted a Barnard College employee, who was later taken to a local hospital, according to Robin Levine, Vice President for Strategic Communications at Barnard.
- Protesters demanded:
- Reinstatement of the expelled students.
- A public meeting with the college dean and president.
- Amnesty for all students facing disciplinary action for pro-Palestinian activism.
School’s Response to Protesters
- Barnard officials offered to meet with the demonstrators if they removed their masks, but the protesters refused.
- Levine stated: “Barnard is a place of learning. Respect, inclusivity, and safety are non-negotiable. Violence and intimidation have no place here.”
- Officials also noted that it was unclear if all protesters were members of the Barnard community.
Deadline & Departure
- The school set a 9:30 p.m. deadline for protesters to leave or face additional measures.
- Protesters left the building just before 11 p.m.
Student Reactions
Jonathan Lederer, a Columbia University student, criticized the administration’s handling of the situation:
“We’re all still bewildered. What’s the administration doing? They should have had plans in place and removed them immediately. This should not be tolerated.”
Lishi Baker, another Columbia student, said security stopped his attempt to stage a counter-protest:
“We saw what happened last spring when protesters kept negotiating, and in the end, the NYPD had to be called.”
CBS News New York’s Lisa Rozner attempted to interview the protesters as they left, but they declined to comment.
