US: Nine Barnard students arrested in campus sweep after second sit-in

Barnard College, Columbia University in New York City, sought assistance from law enforcement after students initiated a library sit-in protest on Wednesday. This marks the second similar sit-in event at the college within a week, reflecting an escalation of tensions on campus, and prompting concerns about the handling of student activism.

At approximately 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday, a group of students gathered outside Barnard College's Milstein Center and renamed it the "Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya Liberated Zone." Their demands included the reinstatement of [three recently expelled students](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/third-student-expelled-barnard-college-columbia-pro-palestinian-activism), amnesty for all protesters, divestment from Israel, and justice for [Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya](https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/profile/dr-hussam-abu-safiya) and all Palestinians in Gaza. These demands highlight the students' commitment to advocating for Palestinian rights and protesting against the college's policies.

Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a pediatrician who served as the director of [Kamal Adwan Hospital](https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/12/30/global-silence-and-abandonment-as-gazas-kamal-adwan-hospital-destroyed), is currently detained by Israel. The hospital, the last major medical facility in northern Gaza, was bombed and destroyed by Israeli forces two days after Christmas in 2024, causing significant damage and loss of life.

Approximately three hours after the sit-in began, just after 4 p.m., Barnard College's Vice President for Strategic Communication, Robin L. Levien, [informed](https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/03/06/nypd-confirms-nine-arrests-at-barnard-in-response-to-unscheduled-demonstration/) protesters at the Milstein Center of a bomb threat and urged everyone to leave. After some protesters refused to leave, Barnard College leadership sought assistance from the New York Police Department, escalating the situation and leading to further confrontation.

Police, including the counter-terrorism unit and the Strategic Response Group, searched the building and arrested nine students. Officers used zip ties to bind the students and brought them back to the Milstein Center, which had just been evacuated, leading students to believe that the bomb threat was fabricated by the college, raising questions about the college's handling of the protest and its communication with students.

This is the second similar incident within a week, following a sit-in protest by approximately 100 students outside the dean's office last Thursday. Previously, faculty members successfully de-escalated the situation and organized a meeting between students and college leadership the following morning. However, faculty negotiators stated that college leadership later reneged on some of the terms, leading to a stalemate in the dialogue, which further fueled student frustration.

Protesters renamed the Milstein Center in honor of Dr. Abu Safiya, who risked his life to maintain the [operation](https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/dr-hussam-abu-safiya-symbolised-humanity-gaza-israel-west-destroying-it) of Kamal Adwan Hospital. At the time, the hospital was under siege by Israeli shelling and drones, and its staff were targeted by Israeli snipers, highlighting the difficult and dangerous conditions faced by medical personnel in Gaza.

In a photo that later went viral online, he can be seen wearing a white lab coat, standing in the ruins of the bombed-out hospital, walking towards two tanks pointing their guns at him. After soldiers announced over a loudspeaker that he should surrender, he complied, demonstrating his courage and commitment to his patients even in the face of extreme adversity.

Since then, he has been [imprisoned](https://x.com/HussamAbuSafiya/status/1889412170766754224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1889412170766754224%7Ctwgr%5E8f22b72f0d90b26ae3bdcc98cd9c109c50179426%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.middleeasteye.net%2Flive-blog%2Flive-blog-update%2Fisraeli-forces-tortured-detained-gaza-doctor-family-says), subjected to solitary confinement and torture. Although no charges have been filed against him, soldiers reportedly subjected him to severe physical abuse, including beatings and electric shocks, until he lost consciousness, raising serious concerns about human rights violations and the treatment of detainees.

As of press time, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and Barnard College have not responded to requests for comment, leaving unanswered questions about the legal and institutional perspectives on the events.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced it would review Columbia University's federal contracts and grants, citing allegations of anti-Semitism at the Ivy League school. The U.S. Department of Justice has formed a task force to combat anti-Semitism, along with the General Services Administration and the U.S. Department of Health, indicating a broader effort to address concerns about discrimination and bias on college campuses.

A joint statement said, "The Federal Government's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is considering issuing a stop-work order on Columbia University's $51.4 million in contracts with the Federal Government," but a freeze has not yet been initiated at the time of writing. "The task force will also conduct a comprehensive review of Columbia University's more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments," suggesting a thorough examination of the university's financial ties to the government.

Protests against Israel's war in Gaza have swept university campuses shortly after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Both the Biden and Trump administrations have sought to characterize anti-Israel and anti-Zionist protests as "anti-Semitism," leading to congressional hearings questioning university administrators and law enforcement forcibly suppressing protests on campuses, raising concerns about freedom of speech and academic freedom.

In the wake of the political backlash, universities such as New York University and Harvard University have scrambled to [adopt](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/harvard-adopts-controversial-ihra-antisemitism-definition) the controversial IHRA definition of anti-Semitism as they come under scrutiny from the federal government, highlighting the pressure on institutions to address concerns about anti-Semitism while navigating complex political and social issues.