The acting president of Columbia University responded to protests that prompted dozens of arrests and led to several injuries on Wednesday, May 7. Columbia University President Claire Shipman issued a video statement on Wednesday night. In it, she condemned the storming and subsequent takeover of the university’s library by pro-Palestinian protesters against the detainment of Mahmoud Khalil by the Trump administration.
Shipman’s response
“Let me be clear, what I witnessed was utterly unacceptable,” Shipman said while describing her experience arriving at Butler Library as protesters breached their way into the building.
“I arrived to see one of our public safety officers wheeled out on a gurney, and another getting bandaged,” said Shipman. “As I left hours later, I walked through the reading room, one of the many jewels of Butler Library, and saw it defaced and damaged in disturbing ways and with disturbing slogans.” Shipman added, “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.”
Shipman went on to say that Columbia University is still looking into whether the demonstration involved “outside agitators.” She said it also disrupted finals studies for roughly 900 students.
How is the Trump administration responding?
The Trump administration commended Shipman’s “strong and resolute” response to the protests and said she “has met the moment with fortitude and conviction,” in a statement on Thursday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X Wednesday, writing, “We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library.” Rubio added, “Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.”
What happened?
Some 100 protesters reportedly took over the library on Wednesday afternoon, demanding that Columbia University divest from Israel. They are also calling for an end to Khalil’s detainment, along with the Trump administration’s attempts to deport him for allegedly spearheading pro-Palestinian protests in 2024. The activists were trying to stage a sit-in.
Shipman said the vandalism and “substantial chaos” led her to call the police.
NYC mayor’s response
New York City Mayor Eric Adams also responded to the protests, condemning them in a statement.
“As I’ve said repeatedly, New York City will always defend the right to peaceful protest, but we will never tolerate lawlessness,” Adams said.
Shipman said, “I have confidence the disciplinary proceedings will reflect the severity of the actions.” The university’s president also said she’s coordinating with on-campus groups to ensure that “affected students” are getting the support they need to study amid library vandalism and destruction. Shipman emphasized that the actions of a relatively small number of students do not represent the vast majority of those attending Columbia, insisting the university will come out stronger as it moves toward its graduation ceremonies.
