The New York City Police Department told JNS that it is responding to a bomb threat at Barnard College’s Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning and that it evacuated the building. “Anyone who refuses to leave the location is subject to arrest,” the NYPD said. “Please stay away from the area.”
The response came after dozens of anti-Israel protesters, many wearing keffiyehs, stormed the library on Wednesday afternoon—a disruption that won’t be tolerated, according to Laura Rosenbury, the college president.
“When masked disruptors first entered Milstein, classes were taking place, facilities were cleaning classrooms and dining staff were preparing meals,” Rosenbury stated. “We must not allow the actions of a few interfere with our mission. Campus activities outside of Milstein and throughout the rest of the campus are proceeding as normal.”
The protesters appeared to circulate photos of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and flyers bearing the image of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a gun with the text “sometimes history needs a flood,” according to posts by students on campus. (Israel killed Nasrallah and Sinwar. The “flood” refers to Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack in southern Israel.)
Columbia University, which has a historic connection to Barnard College, is monitoring the protest.
“We are in touch with Barnard’s leadership and security team as they address the situation and will continue to monitor it closely,” Columbia stated.
“The disruption of academic activities is not acceptable conduct. We are committed to supporting our Columbia student body and our campus community during this challenging time,” it added.
