NEW YORK — Pro-Palestinian demonstrators wearing kaffiyeh scarves and masks infiltrated Barnard College’s Milbank Hall, the administrative hub of the college, and reportedly assaulted a staff member on Wednesday.
The protesters exited Milbank Hall later in the evening “without further incident,” according to Barnard President Laura Rosenbury.
“Let us be clear: their disregard for the safety of our community is entirely unacceptable,” she stated.
The college had earlier indicated that if the protesters did not leave by 9:30 p.m., officials might be compelled to implement “additional, necessary measures to protect our campus.”
A statement from a student group indicated that the demonstrators dispersed after the administration agreed to a meeting on Thursday afternoon.
The protesters demanded amnesty for all students facing disciplinary actions due to pro-Palestine activism; a meeting with the Barnard administration; and the reversal of expulsion orders for two students.
“WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL OUR DEMANDS ARE MET. FREE PALESTINE,” a message from the group asserted.
One staff member was sent to the hospital following the assault, as confirmed by Barnard’s vice president for strategic communications, who did not provide additional details.
The demonstrators also encouraged participation from others on campus without identification.
“Barnard leadership offered to meet with the protesters — and consistently engages with all community members — under one condition: to remove their masks,” she stated. “This offer was declined, and mediation services were also proposed.”
Videos circulated by the protest group depicted masked individuals chanting in hallways, some drumming, while others used megaphones.
Visible Palestinian flags adorned the walls, complemented by slogans like “Barnard funds genocide” and “Free Palestine” scrawled throughout the space.
