As of March 5, 2025, the latest updates on the situation at Barnard College, where pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the Milstein Library and renamed it the "Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya Liberated Zone," indicate a significant escalation involving a bomb threat and NYPD intervention. Here’s a detailed summary based on available information:
The occupation of the Milstein Library began on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, with dozens of protesters entering the building around 1 p.m. MST. They declared it the "Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya Liberated Zone" in honor of the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, who was abducted by Israeli forces in December 2024. The protesters’ primary demands included the reversal of the expulsions of three Barnard students disciplined for distributing flyers during a Columbia University lecture, as well as broader calls for the college to address its stance on Palestinian issues.
Tensions rose as Barnard’s administration responded to the sit-in. The college issued evacuation notices, initially demanding that protesters disperse, which some activists reportedly tore up, signaling their intent to remain. By late afternoon, a bomb threat was reported, prompting a significant response from the NYPD. Around 5 p.m. MST, more than 50 NYPD officers entered the campus and began removing protesters from the Milstein Center after the college requested their intervention due to the threat. The NYPD warned via social media that anyone refusing to leave would be subject to arrest and advised the public to avoid the area. Several individuals were taken into custody, though exact numbers and details on arrests remain unclear as of 4:14 p.m. MST.
Barnard College President Laura Rosenbury communicated to students and faculty that the disruption by "the actions of a few" must not interfere with the academic mission, emphasizing that activities outside the Milstein Center continued as normal. However, some students and observers, as reflected in posts on X and news reports, speculated that the bomb threat might have been a pretext used by the administration to justify NYPD involvement and end the protest, though no definitive evidence supports this claim.
This incident follows a pattern of pro-Palestinian activism at Barnard, with a similar sit-in occurring the previous week at Milbank Hall, where protesters also demanded reinstatement of expelled students and injured a security guard. The Milstein Library occupation marks the second consecutive week of such actions, highlighting ongoing tensions between the administration and student activists. Columbia University, Barnard’s affiliate, issued a statement acknowledging the disruption but deferring to Barnard’s leadership to manage the situation, while condemning the interference with academic activities.
The situation remains fluid, with no further updates on whether the library has been fully cleared or if additional arrests have occurred as of the current time, 4:14 p.m. MST on March 5, 2025. The bomb threat investigation appears to be ongoing, and the NYPD’s presence suggests continued monitoring of the campus. This event aligns with broader campus protest movements across the U.S., as seen in prior actions at Columbia and other universities, reflecting heightened student activism around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.