Cops Arrest 9 During Pro-Palestinian Protest At NYC College: NYPD

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, NY — Police officers arrested nine people during a pro-Palestinian sit-in at Barnard College's main library on Wednesday night following a false bomb threat, New York City Police Department officials said.

According to the NYPD, the nine people — one 18-year-old woman, three 20-year-old women, four 21-year-old women, and one 26-year-old man were each charged with obstructing governmental administration, trespassing and disorderly conduct at the Morningside Heights women's college.

The chaotic scene started to unfold around 1 p.m., when around two dozen protestors staged a sit-in calling for a free Palestine in the lobby of the Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning, the college's main library.

The school blocked access to the building, and classes were disrupted, school officials said.

Then, around 5 p.m., a bomb threat was called into the college, and the NYPD began removing and detaining protestors. Around 8 p.m., the NYPD announced that it had cleared the building.

"The bomb threat incident at Barnard College has been investigated and cleared," the NYPD said in a statement. "There is currently no threat to the public."

Barnard College officials confirmed the bomb threat in a separate statement:

"During de-escalation efforts, the college received a bomb threat. Despite warnings and a fire alarm activation, many protesters stayed, putting the campus at risk," Barnard College President Laura Rosenbury said. "For the safety of our entire community, we requested NYPD assistance."

However, the Barnard Student Government Association said in a statement on Wednesday night that it strongly condemns inviting the NYPD onto campus.

"The Barnard Student Government Association strongly condemns the presence of NYPD on campus," the statement said. "Any remaining trust between the student body and the administration has been broken after this dangerous decision to use such disproportionate force against students engaging in nonviolent protest."

A week ago, protestors held a similar demonstration at Milbank Hall, protesting the expulsion of two students who had disrupted a class on Israeli history. The tense seven-hour standoff resulted in $30,000 in damages and one Barnard security guard in the hospital, Barnard officials said.

Then, this Monday, the Trump Administration said they were reviewing federal contracts and grants with Columbia University and said they would consider pulling $51.4 million in federal money. Barnard College is a separate institution, but it is affiliated with Columbia.

"All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests," President Donald Trump wrote on social media. "Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

Classes resumed at Barnard on Thursday.

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