Professional-Palestinian protesters sporting kaffiyeh scarves and masks pushed their approach into Barnard School’s Milbank Corridor, which homes the places of work of the dean, and assaulted a college worker Wednesday, based on the varsity.
The protesters later left Milbank Corridor within the night time “without further incident,” Barnard President Laura Rosenbury mentioned in a press release.
“But let us be clear: their disregard for the safety of our community remains completely unacceptable,” she mentioned.
The college had warned that if the scholars weren’t passed by 9:30 p.m. officers may very well be compelled to take “additional, necessary measures to protect our campus.”
The coed group Columbia College students for Justice in Palestine mentioned on the social platform X that protesters dispersed after the administration agreed to satisfy with them Thursday afternoon.
The demonstrators demanded amnesty for all college students disciplined for pro-Palestinian motion; a gathering with Rosenbury and Dean Leslie Grinage; and reversal of the expulsion of two college students, based on the group.
“WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL OUR DEMANDS ARE MET. FREE PALESTINE,” it posted on X earlier within the day.
An worker was despatched to the hospital after being assaulted by the protesters, Robin Levine, Barnard’s vice chairman for strategic communications, mentioned in a press release, with out providing additional particulars.
The protesters additionally inspired different individuals to return on campus with out identification, Levine added.
“Barnard leadership offered to meet with the protesters — just as we meet with all members of our community — on one simple condition: remove their masks,” she mentioned earlier within the night. “They refused. We have also offered mediation.”
Movies posted by the scholar group confirmed individuals sporting masks and kaffiyeh scarves chanting in a hallway. Some banged on drums, whereas others held megaphones.
Palestinian flags had been held on the partitions and slogans corresponding to “Barnard funds genocide” and “Free Palestine” had been scrawled on the partitions.
