Context:

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested by New York police after they occupied Butler Library at Columbia University, with the protest leading to injuries of two university security officers. The protest, which involved chanting and vandalism, was met with significant police presence at the request of Columbia's president Claire Shipman, who denounced the disruption as unacceptable during finals preparation. The protest defied a ban on such demonstrations imposed by the Trump administration, leading Secretary of State Marco Rubio to announce a review of the visa statuses of those involved. The administration has previously threatened to withhold federal funding from Columbia and other universities accused of tolerating antisemitism, with the recent protest reigniting tensions. This incident is part of a broader resurgence of pro-Palestinian protests at US universities, which have also faced threats of funding cuts and deportations under the Trump administration's policies.

Dive Deeper:

• New York police arrested more than 70 pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University after they occupied the main library, resulting in injuries to two security officers. The protesters, many wearing keffiyeh scarves and masks, defied a previous ban and were accused by university authorities of disrupting academic activities.

• Columbia University president Claire Shipman requested police intervention due to the protest's impact on students preparing for exams, marking the first time the NYPD was called to handle an on-campus protest since April 2024. Shipman criticized the protesters for occupying the library and warned that such disruptions were unacceptable.

• The Trump administration's ban on protests and review of visa statuses for those involved highlights ongoing tensions with universities like Columbia, which have been accused of not adequately addressing antisemitism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled the protesters as 'trespassers and vandals' and announced potential visa reviews.

• Protests like the one at Columbia are part of a wider trend of increased pro-Palestinian activities at US colleges, coinciding with the graduation season. The administration's crackdown has included threats of deportation and revocation of international student visas, as well as withholding federal funding from institutions perceived as non-compliant.

• Columbia's protest follows a history of the university being a focal point for activism, especially against the US's support for Israel and the Gaza conflict. Despite previous agreements with the Trump administration to avoid funding cuts, the latest protest has reignited disputes over university policies and federal intervention.

• The administration's approach to campus protests has included broader measures against universities across the US, with warnings issued to 60 institutions about potential funding cancellations if antisemitism allegations are not addressed.

• Harvard University has also been targeted, with Trump terminating $2.2 billion in federal funding after the university resisted demands to change its policies. This reflects a broader strategy to pressure universities into compliance with the administration's stance on protest activities and antisemitism.