Barnard College latest: Pro-Palestinian sit-in continues after turning violent
Protesters rally at City College in Harlem
Pro-Palestinian protestors are gathering on the campus of City College in Harlem. They were hoping to confront Gov. Hochul who was supposed to have an event there, but it's no longer on her schedule. FOX 5 NY's Linda Schmidt reports.
NEW YORK - Pro-Palestinian protesters, wearing kaffiyeh scarves and masks, stormed Manhattan's Barnard College and ultimately injured a school employee on Wednesday, according to the college.
On Thursday, more protests broke out on the Upper West Side campus, with dozens of demonstrators and counter-protesters spotted chanting in support of their cause.
What we know:
The employee was apparently sent to the hospital after being assaulted by the protesters, Robin Levine, Barnard’s vice president for strategic communications, said in a statement, without offering further details.
College officials said the demonstrators took over Milbank Hall on the before leaving "without further incident," Barnard President Laura Rosenbury said in a statement.
"But let us be clear: their disregard for the safety of our community remains completely unacceptable," Rosenbury said.
The school warned that if the students were not gone by 9:30 p.m., officials would be forced to take "additional, necessary measures to protect our campus."
Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said on X that protesters dispersed after successfully forcing school officials to the negotiating table.
The meeting was expected to take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday.
What they're saying:
Pro-Palestinian protesters storm Barnard College
Pro-Palestinian protesters stormed Barnard College on Wednesday evening, where an employee was "physically assaulted," officials said. FOX 5 NY's Briella Tomassetti has the details.
The demonstrators demanded amnesty for all students disciplined for pro-Palestinian action; a meeting with Rosenbury and Dean Leslie Grinage; and reversal of the expulsion of two students, according to the group.
What are pro-Palestinian demonstrators asking for?
"WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL OUR DEMANDS ARE MET. FREE PALESTINE," they posted on X Wednesday.
Robin Levin said that school leadership had offered to meet with the protesters, "just as we meet with all members of our community — on one simple condition: remove their masks," she said that they refused. "We have also offered mediation," she added.
Videos posted by the student group showed people wearing masks and kaffiyeh scarves chanting in a hallway. Some banged on drums, while others held megaphones.
Palestinian flags were hung on the walls and slogans like "Barnard funds genocide" and "Free Palestine" were scrawled.