Sit-in protest held at Barnard College demanding reinstatement of 2 expelled students
MANHATTAN, New York (WABC) -- A sit-in protest at Barnard College lasted several hours Wednesday night as demonstrators demanded the reinstatement of two students expelled for distributing flyers inside a Columbia University lecture, organizers said.
The protest erupted on the Upper Manhattan campus as demonstrators forcibly entered a campus building, assaulting a school employee in the process.
Approximately 60 protesters stormed Milbank Hall, bringing food and supplies in preparation for an extended sit-in.
Congressman Ritchie Torres posted video of the incident on X, calling it an "aggressive mob."
The demonstration was rooted in an incident from over a month ago, when two individuals entered a "History of Modern Israel" class and distributed flyers containing what the college described as violent imagery. Following their expulsion, protesters gathered to demand their reinstatement.
Protesters, who remained inside Milbank Hall for several hours, were warned by Barnard officials that if they did not vacate by 9:30 p.m., the college would "be forced to consider additional, necessary measures to protect our campus."
Police maintained a heavy presence throughout the protest with the NYPD's Strategic Response Group stationed nearby.
Shortly before 11 p.m., the sit-in concluded and officers eventually entered the building shortly thereafter. Demonstrators continued their protest through the neighborhood.
"Tonight, a small group of masked protesters attempted to undermine Barnard's core values of respect, inclusion, and academic excellence," said Barnard President Laura Rosenbury in a statement. "Thanks to the efforts of our staff and faculty, the protesters have now left Milbank Hall without further incident. But let us be clear: their disregard for the safety of our community remains completely unacceptable."
Columbia University also put out a statement, saying "The disruption of academic activities is not acceptable conduct," but clarified that Barnard College is a separate institution from Columbia, and is not responsible for security on Barnard's campus.
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