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This situation at Columbia University reflects a deepening national clash over free speech, campus activism, and federal power—particularly under the Trump administration’s hardline stance on pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The use of police to arrest protesters, the injuries to security personnel, and the revocation of visas mark a dramatic escalation in how such protests are being handled.
Key takeaways:
- Over 70 people were arrested following a protest at Columbia’s Butler Library, where activists forced entry and staged an occupation.
- Columbia University President Claire Shipman condemned the action and confirmed some protesters were not students.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa reviews for those involved, part of broader federal crackdowns.
- The Trump administration is actively penalizing universities it accuses of failing to combat antisemitism, including threatening or cutting billions in funding.
- Columbia and Harvard have become central battlegrounds, with lawsuits and defiance from faculty and administration against federal demands.
This conflict raises questions about civil liberties, academic independence, and the limits of protest in politically charged times.