Columbia University Library Erupts in Chaos Amid Anti-Israel Protests

A Jewish student at Columbia University recounted a harrowing experience in which he and his peers faced aggression during a hostile occupation of the campus library by anti-Israel demonstrators. The incident occurred on Wednesday, creating a tense environment for students attempting to study.

“It felt like a stampede. My friends and I were shoved. It was unclear if this was directed at us because we are Jewish, or if it was simply a mob action. Later, while I was standing in the library lobby, a supporter of the demonstrators walked past and elbowed me in the ribs. It was surreal,” the Ph.D. student from Israel told Fox News Digital.

The takeover of Butler Library involved hundreds of protesters who burst into the facility, overwhelming public safety officers as they forced their way inside. This chaotic scene left the Ph.D. student trapped for three hours in an “extremely hostile environment” while he attempted to conduct research.

Inside the Library: An Account of Intimidation

According to the student, public safety officials managed to lock down the room after about ten to fifteen minutes. However, multiple waves of demonstrators persistently attempted to breach the area.

“There was a mass rush of masked individuals, many wearing keffiyehs. The level of shoving was alarming. The mob’s intent seemed solely focused on pushing through security,” he explained.

Eventually, public safety officials escorted him from the main area of the library into the lobby. At this point, he was wearing a yarmulke, which the student believes may have contributed to his treatment. He claimed that a woman passing by intentionally elbowed him in the ribs.

Experiencing Antisemitic Abuse

In addition to physical intimidation, the Ph.D. student reported enduring verbal abuse from the protesting crowd. This incident was not an isolated event; he indicated that such hostility has become a recurring theme.

“I was labeled a genocider and called a perpetual victim. That was just yesterday,” he stated.

University Administration Responds

Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, condemned the protest as “utterly unacceptable.” She emphasized the need for a safe and respectful academic environment.

Reports from students present during the protest suggested that some demonstrators engaged in damaging behavior, such as placing stickers over security cameras and vandalizing library property. They chanted slogans like “Long live the intifada!” while continuing to disrupt the study environment for fellow students.

Students noted that a display case in the library was vandalized with the phrase “Columbia will burn for the martyrs,” highlighting the charged atmosphere.

Immediate Reactions From Students

Columbia sophomore Josh Segal expressed his disbelief at the episode, describing the chaotic scene. He had just stepped out of the library for a coffee when he heard protestors shouting for Hamas’ Al Qassam brigades, the military wing responsible for several violent attacks in recent weeks.

“It was utter pandemonium. Hundreds of students were present, studying and working. Everyone seemed in shock. The demonstrators forced many study sessions to end abruptly,” Segal recounted.

Eden Yadegar, a senior at Columbia, also described the experience. She expressed frustration over the protest’s timing, given that it coincided with final exam preparations.

“It’s finals, and I’m already behind. I couldn’t focus all day because my materials were stuck in the library,” she shared, adding that she overheard chants targeting American imperialism and a disdainful remark about Hamas from the protesting group.

Law Enforcement Actions

Following the incident, police reported 80 arrests made during the chaotic takeover of the library, a move that Yadegar welcomed as a necessary step for the university, which has faced increasing scrutiny for incidents related to antisemitism.

Yadegar, who is majoring in Jewish and Middle Eastern studies, voiced her belief that the protesters have misrepresented their treatment by public safety officers during the event.

“The protesters are promoting a false narrative, claiming they were brutalized by public safety officers who were trying to keep students safe. Public safety encouraged students to exit safely but required only that they show ID. The demonstrators refused to do this, hiding their identities,” she explained.

The Call for Accountability

Looking to the future, Yadegar expressed hope that the university administration would take decisive action against those involved in the protest.

“I believe the university should take steps to suspend or expel the protesters. Their actions disrupt our academic environment and fuel antisemitic sentiments, trivializing real and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East,” she stressed.