Pro-Palestinian students stage sit-in at Barnard College in NY

Around a hundred students at Barnard College in New York staged a sit-in on Wednesday, protesting the expulsion of two students who had protested against an Israeli studies class.

According to police reports, the protest began on campus at around 4 pm local time at Milbank Hall at Broadway and 120th Street in Manhattan.

During the protest, a Barnard employee was reportedly injured and was sent to the hospital, according to Robin Levine, Barnard College’s Vice President for Strategic Communications.

She reportedly added that the administration had offered to meet with the protesters on condition that they removed their masks, but she said they refused.

Barnard is a sister college of Columbia University, which has been a leader in the worldwide student-led demonstrations in support of Gaza since the outbreak of Israel’s genocidal war in October 2023.

In the 16 months since the war began, more than 62,500 Palestinians, most of them civilians, in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have been killed by Israeli attacks.

The Barnard protesters said they would not leave until Barnard reversed their decision to expel the two students. However, the gathering had ended before 11 pm on Wednesday.

The protesters also reportedly asked for a public hearing to advocate for amnesty for students who had faced discipline for their pro-Palestinian activism.

“Barnard protesters have dispersed after successfully forcing admin to the negotiating table. They meet tomorrow. 1pm,” Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine posted on social media shortly after the protest. The group posted updates on the demonstration throughout the evening.

In addition to calling for the reversal of the two students’ expulsions amnesty for those involved in pro-Palestinian activism, the students were also demanding a public meeting with administrators and transparency of the disciplinary process of students. They have vowed to continue protesting until their demands are met.