NYPD Arrests Protesters Amid Barnard College Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations

Protests erupted outside Barnard College in New York this week in response to the expulsion of two students who had interrupted an Israeli studies class and distributed anti-Zionist materials. The demonstrations, which included chants of support for Palestine, were met with a heavy police presence, leading to multiple arrests as the protests escalated. NYPD officers took four individuals into custody on charges including obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct. Activists criticized the police response as an attack on the right to protest, highlighting a broader pattern of suppression against pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus. Calls for the reinstatement of the expelled students have gained traction, with over 116,600 signatures supporting their cause. The political tensions at Columbia University and Barnard College reflect a national discourse around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly in the wake of recent violence in the region.