NYPD clears Barnard College library after pro-Palestine protesters occupy building
Protesters storm Barnard College library
Tense moments unfolded at Barnard College as pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the Milstein Center, prompting a bomb scare and police intervention. The NYPD responded around 5 p.m., ordering protesters to evacuate for their safety. Several refused and were taken into custody, with charges pending. FOX 5’s Linda Schmidt reports from Barnard College.
NEW YORK - Pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied Barnard College’s Milstein Center, leading to an NYPD response after a bomb threat forced evacuations. Several protesters refused to leave and were taken into custody.
What we know:
At around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the Milstein Center was the target of more than two dozen masked pro-Palestinian demonstrators, who staged a sit in.
At around 5 p.m., a bomb threat was reportedly called in, causing the NYPD to intervene and evacuate the building.
Several protesters refused to leave and were arrested. Charges against them are still pending.
Barnard College President Laura Ann Rosenbury addressed the incident in a statement, saying:
"Today has been unsettling and disturbing, and these continued disruptions take a toll on our community. The desire of a few to disrupt and threaten cannot outweigh the needs of the students, faculty, and staff who call our campus home. I urge us to come together with care and respect for each other rooted in our shared commitment to Barnard."
"If colleges like Barnard had a clear policy of expelling students who take over private property, the hostile takeovers would end in a heartbeat," Rep. Ritchie Torres wrote on X. "The lack of accountability is an open invitation to lawlessness and disorder on college campuses."
The scene at Barnard College.
The backstory:
This is the second major protest at Barnard in a week.
Previously, students occupied Milbank Hall for over six hours.
The demonstrations are part of ongoing calls to reinstate expelled students who were removed for interrupting a class an distributing antisemitic flyers.
Pro-Palestinian protesters storm Barnard College building: Latest
Protests continue at Barnard College, officials say a group of students took over the building. FOX 5 NY's Linda Schmidt with the details.
What's next:
Barnard's president has offered to meet with some protest organizers this week, but demonstrators say this does not satisfy their demands.
The Source: This story was written using information from FOX 5 staff and crews in the field.