Tensions Rise at US Campuses as Columbia Protest Sparks Arrests and Political Clash

A new wave of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University has led to the arrest of more than 70 individuals, though no charges have been filed yet. Authorities have not clarified who is being held or whether any of them are international students on visas, BBC reported. 

The situation escalated when protesters took over a room in Columbia's Butler Library. They refused to show their IDs and were accused of vandalizing property, including writing “Free Palestine” on bookshelves. Protesters claimed they were met with “violent repression” and an unjust police response.

Columbia University President Claire Shipman requested police intervention, saying many of the protestors were not students and that the disruption came as students were preparing for final exams. She urged others to stay away from the area. This is the first time since April 2024 that Columbia has brought in the NYPD to deal with an on-campus protest.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams backed the university's action, stating the city "won’t tolerate hate or violence in any form."

The protests at Columbia have drawn strong criticism from political leaders, especially former President Donald Trump and Senator Marco Rubio. Rubio labeled the protesters as “trespassers and vandals,” and Trump’s team has gone further—revoking student visas, threatening deportations, and cutting off federal funding to universities seen as tolerating antisemitism.

Trump has already slashed $2.2 billion in funding to Harvard and is threatening to pull $400 million from Columbia. His administration has also warned 60 other universities to address alleged antisemitism or face financial consequences.

Protest activity is rising at campuses nationwide as graduation season nears. Just this week, more than 20 demonstrators were arrested at the University of Washington for occupying a building.

The growing unrest has turned college campuses into a flashpoint in a larger national debate, with students, faculty, and government officials clashing over free speech, public safety and political expression.