The Steady Drip: Police Arrest Dozens of Pro-Palestinian Protesters at Columbia (Connecting the Dots: Claire Shipman, Good Morning America, ABC News, Columbia University, Palestine (Hamas), The United Nations (U.N.) & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Police Arrest Dozens of Pro-Palestinian Protesters at Columbia (Connecting the Dots: Claire Shipman, Good Morning America, ABC News, Columbia University, Palestine (Hamas), The United Nations (U.N.) & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Newsmax.com

By James Morley III | Thursday, 08 May 2025 04:52 PM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/us/columbia-nypd-pro-palestinian/2025/05/08/id/1210167/

At least 80 people have been arrested following pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, the New York Police Department said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, protesters forced their way into Butler Library on the Columbia campus, injuring two security officers in the process. Protesters with the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group said in a statement they would "continue to disrupt Columbia's profits and legitimacy." The protesters also were openly defying new guidelines from the Trump administration banning masks on school grounds.

The NYPD said that those "who did not comply with verbal warnings" to disperse were taken into custody on Wednesday with 78 individuals issued an order to appear in court and two were given summonses.

The protests came the same week as the university announced it would be laying off close to 180 employees due to the Trump administration's pulling $400 million in federal funding over what it says is Columbia's inability to combat antisemitism on campus.

Columbia has been ground zero in the administration's crackdown on what it perceives as flagrant antisemitism on college campuses. In March, pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil was apprehended at his New York residence after the administration accused him of participating in the violent anti-Israel protests at Columbia last spring and distributing anti-Israel propaganda. His arrest sparked subsequent protests in April, when students chained themselves to the gates of St. Paul's Chapel on the university grounds.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his agency will take immediate action on Wednesday's protests. "We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University's library," Rubio posted on Wednesday. "Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation."

Acting Columbia University President Claire Shipman released a statement on the protesters, saying, "Disruptions to our academic activities will not be tolerated and are violations of our rules and policies. This is especially unacceptable while our students study and prepare for final exams."

Shipman replaced Katrina Armstrong, who resigned a little over six months into her role after the university agreed to some policy changes demanded by the Trump administration. Armstrong had replaced Minouche Shafik, who resigned amid last year's pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

The Trump administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism said in a statement that it was encouraged by Shipman's prompt and forceful reaction.

"She has stepped in to lead Columbia at a critical juncture and has met the moment with fortitude and conviction. We are grateful for the public safety officers who acted swiftly, and at a danger to themselves, to secure the library and remove the radical protesters that had seized it," the statement read.

Connecting the Dots:

James Carney was the press secretary for the Barack Obama administration and married to Claire Shipman.

Claire Shipman was married to James Carney, a correspondent for Good Morning America and is the president for Columbia University.

Good Morning America is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC.

Kati Marton was the Bonn bureau chief for the ABC News, married to Peter Jennings and is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

George E. Rupp is an overseer; former president & CEO for the International Rescue Committee and was the president of Columbia University.

Joan E. Spero was a trustee at Columbia University and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Louis W. Cabot is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and married to Mabel Brandon Cabot.

Mabel Brandon Cabot is married to Louis W. Cabot and Alexandra Wentworth’s mother.

Alexandra Wentworth is Mabel Brandon Cabot’s daughter, married to George Stephanopoulos and a director at the Children's Defense Fund.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Children's Defense Fund and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Joan E. Spero was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a trustee at Columbia University.

Susan E. Rice was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the White House national security adviser for the Barack Obama administration and is married to Ian O. Cameron.

Ian O. Cameron is married to Susan E. Rice, a senior producer for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and was an executive producer for This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

World News Tonight with Peter Jennings was an ABC News program.

Peter Jennings was the host for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, married to Kati Marton and an anchor for the ABC News.

Good Morning America is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC.

This Week with George Stephanopoulos is an American Sunday morning political affairs program airing on ABC.

George Stephanopoulos was a chief Washington correspondent for the ABC News, is a co-anchor for Good Morning America, the anchor for This Week with George Stephanopoulos and married to Alexandra Wentworth.

Alexandra Wentworth is married to George Stephanopoulos Mabel Brandon Cabot’s daughter and a director at the Children's Defense Fund.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Children's Defense Fund.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Robert Jeffrey is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a board member for the CDC Foundation.

CDC Foundation is a foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Epidemic Intelligence Service is a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Richard E. Besser was an investigator for the Epidemic Intelligence Service, the acting director, director of terrorism preparedness & emergency response for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is the chief medical editor for the ABC News.

Amy Robbins Towers is a board member for the CDC Foundation, a director at the Human Rights Watch, was a director at the Millennium Promise and married to Larry Robbins.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Human Rights Watch.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a benefactor for the Human Rights Watch.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Human Rights Watch, the Millennium Promise and the Robin Hood Foundation.

Jeffrey D. Sachs is a director at the Millennium Promise and a professor at Columbia University.

Larry Robbins is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation and was married to Amy Robbins Towers.

Diane Sawyer is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation, was an anchor for the ABC News and a co-anchor for Good Morning America.

Claire Shipman was a correspondent for Good Morning America, married to James Carney and is the president for Columbia University.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Robin Hood Foundation.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Emma Bloomberg was the chief of staff for the Robin Hood Foundation and is Michael R. Bloomberg’ daughter.

Michael R. Bloomberg is Emma Bloomberg’s father, was a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation and a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Robin Hood Foundation and the Harlem Children's Zone.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone.

Mark E. Kingdon is a trustee at the Harlem Children's Zone and a trustee at Columbia University.

Richard E. Witten is a trustee at the Harlem Children's Zone and was a trustee at Columbia University.

Claire Shipman is the president for Columbia University, was a correspondent for Good Morning America and married to James Carney.

Diane Sawyer was a co-anchor for Good Morning America, an anchor for the ABC News and is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Robin Hood Foundation and the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Kati Marton is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, was the Bonn bureau chief for the ABC News and married to Peter Jennings.

Peter Jennings was married to Kati Marton, an anchor for the ABC News and the host for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.