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Columbia University suspends more than 65 students over pro-Palestine demonstration in library

Columbia University suspends more than 65 students over pro-Palestine demonstration in library

Columbia also barred 33 other people who took part in the protest from campus.
10 May, 2025

Columbia University has suspended more than 65 students for their role in a pro-Palestinian demonstration that forced the shutdown of the main campus library, a school official said on Friday.

Placed on interim suspension, the students will be prohibited from taking their final exams or entering campus except to access their dormitories, the university official said.

Columbia also barred 33 other people from campus, including students from other colleges and alumni who took part in the protest, according to the official.

“When rules are violated and when our academic community is purposefully disrupted, that is a considered choice one with real consequences,” the Columbia official said.

Scores of students were arrested after seizing part of the school’s main library on Wednesday in one of the biggest pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus since last year’s wave of protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.

Officers of the New York Police Department were called to campus to quell the protest at the request of university officials.

The demonstration came amid negotiations between Columbia’s board of trustees and the Trump administration, which announced in March it was penalizing the university over previous pro-Palestinian protests by cancelling hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants.

There was no immediate reaction to news of the suspensions from student activists representing the protesters.

Organisers of Wednesday’s demonstration repeated their long-standing demands that the university cease investing any of its $14.8 billion endowment in weapons makers and other companies that support Israel’s military occupation of Palestinian territories.

Comments

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 10, 2025 04:08pm
What a shame?
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Maria May 10, 2025 04:15pm
what is this story doing in Images?
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Justice for All May 10, 2025 04:49pm
It’s all old saying…Might is right.
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Saeed Siddiqui May 10, 2025 08:38pm
Great ! Hooliganism & politics have no place in education institutions.
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Money Matters May 11, 2025 02:32am
Disrupting other students in the library who are preparing for their final exam is not a peaceful protest. There is new Sheriff in the town and his name is Trump.
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Multani May 11, 2025 07:01am
I am sure they are muslim students, we have no place in USA
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Laila May 11, 2025 11:26am
Well it is no different than universities in Pakistan. They have rules students and staff must abide by. Try protesting for Pakistani minorities or Uighurs, or against COVID vaccinations on Pakistani campus. Free speech is not absolute. Employers, campuses, private companies, public buildings, mosques, parks, schools, etc have rules too. They don't have to submit to your sense or morality or justice. This is just how it is.
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Laila May 12, 2025 11:47am
@Multani On your view only Muslims have been protesting against Israel? Because as you could learn from a quick online search, most protesters are by far not Muslims. But from all backgrounds, nationalities, cultures, religious/political ideologies and economical backgrounds. If there was no place for "us" in the USA, then why are millions of Muslims spread out across the USA, living free the American dream and refusing to relocate back to their country of origin? Try protesting in Pakistan and you will face similar if not worse consequences. Forced disappearances is a real thing for both journalists and civilians here. "We" are by far more safe in a country like USA.
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Anonymouseee May 12, 2025 01:19pm
Freedom of speech no more.
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