New York: Palestine supporters forcibly entered the building of Barnard College and created a ruckus, one employee injured

Pro-Palestinian protesters with kaffiyeh scarves on their heads wearing masks stormed Milbank Hall at Barnard College in New York on Wednesday and caused a disturbance. The disturbance occurred in a space that hosts the dean's office, a statement from the college says. The administration at the campus reported that a worker at the school was assaulted by the protesters in the process of making a disturbance. Barnard President Laura Rosenbury issued a statement that the protesters left Milbank Hall at night "without incident."

He said, "But let us make it clear that their disregard for the safety of our community is completely unacceptable." The school had warned that officers could be forced to "take additional, necessary steps to protect our campus" if students did not leave by 9:30 p.m.

A student group called Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said on the social platform X that the protesters dispersed after the administration agreed to meet with them Thursday afternoon. According to the group, protesters demanded amnesty for all students punished for pro-Palestinian actions, a meeting with Rosenbury and Dean Leslie Grinage, and the reversal of the expulsions of two students.

"We will not stop until our demands are met. Liberate Palestine," protesters posted on X earlier in the day. Robin Levin, Barnard's vice president for strategic communications, said in a statement that one staff member was sent to the hospital after being attacked by protesters, though she did not provide any further details. Levin said protesters also encouraged others to come to campus without identification.

“The Barnard administration first offered to meet with the protesters – just as we meet with all members of our community – with the simple condition that they remove their masks. They declined. We also offered to mediate,” Levin said.

Videos posted by the student group showed people wearing masks and kaffiyeh scarves chanting in the hallways. Some played drums while others held megaphones. Palestinian flags were hung from the walls, and slogans such as “Barnard funds genocide” and “Free Palestine” were written on the walls.