Pro-Hamas protesters seize building, assault college employee 

Dozens of anti-Israel protesters, many wearing keffiyehs, stormed Milbank Hall at Barnard College on Wednesday evening, occupying the historic academic building for hours and assaulting a school employee.

The demonstration was held in protest of the expulsions of two Columbia University students who disrupted a class in January, throwing inflammatory flyers loaded with hateful rhetoric.

Videos posted by Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on X show masked students lining the hallways, banging drums, and chanting through megaphones. The group, which declares “long live the student intifada” in its bio, released a list of demands, including the reversal of the expulsions, amnesty for students punished for anti-Israel protests last year, and a public meeting with Barnard administrators.

The protesters also demanded the “abolition of the corrupt Barnard disciplinary process” and full transparency in all disciplinary actions. SJP accused Barnard’s public safety officers of shoving students and knocking one to the ground, writing in an all-caps social media post: “Who are they really protecting?”

However, Barnard College stated that the protesters, not security, were responsible for the violence, confirming that a staff member was physically assaulted and hospitalized.

“They encouraged others to enter campus without identification, showing blatant disregard for the safety of our community,” said Robin Levine, Barnard’s Vice President for Strategic Communications.

Administrators offered to meet with the protesters if they removed their masks, but they refused. Levine warned the demonstrators that they had until 9:30 p.m. to vacate the building or face further disciplinary action.

The New York Post contributed to this article.