Barnard Protesters Disrupt Classes With Anti-Israel Rally as Bibas Family Is Laid to Rest

On the very day that the Bibas family brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists was laid to rest in Israel, anti-Israel protesters at Barnard College occupied a campus building, blocking students from attending classes. Video footage captured protesters chanting the violent slogan “from the river to the sea,” a call widely recognized as advocating for the eradication of Israel.

The chaotic scene unfolded at Barnard, an affiliate of Columbia University, where demonstrators banged drums and harassed students attempting to attend classes. Some professors and students were physically barred from entering, as campus police told them to “wait until this is over.”

Key Points:

• Protesters' Demands: The demonstrators issued a list of demands, including reversing the expulsion of two students disciplined for disrupting an Israeli history class, amnesty for all anti-Israel activists, and an overhaul of Barnard’s disciplinary process.

• Violence and Intimidation: A Barnard employee was reportedly assaulted and sent to the hospital, prompting the college to warn of “additional, necessary measures” if protesters did not vacate by 9:30 p.m.

• Administration’s Response: Barnard offered to meet with protesters on the condition that they unmask and limit the meeting to three students. The protesters rejected this offer, booing the spokesperson.

Republican lawmakers swiftly condemned the college’s inaction. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) called on campus administrators to enforce the law or face consequences under President Donald Trump’s executive order to combat anti-Semitism. “Jewish students should not be forced to risk their personal safety to pursue an education,” Ernst stated.

The disruption took place as thousands in Israel mourned Shiri Bibas and her sons, Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 8 months, who were killed by Hamas terrorists. Their story has become a global symbol of the horrors inflicted by Hamas during the October 7 attacks. The Israeli Defense Forces revealed that the young boys were killed “with their bare hands,” a detail that has fueled international outrage.

The juxtaposition of the funeral with the hateful protest was not lost on Jonathan Harounoff, Israel’s International Spokesperson to the United Nations. “To see Barnard students and faculty interrupt classes and once again call to ‘globalize the intifada’ on that very same day is grotesque and deeply disturbing,” he said.

Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order demanding strict action against anti-Semitic behavior on college campuses. The order calls for the investigation and potential deportation of foreign students who engage in anti-Jewish rhetoric or violence. With anti-Semitic incidents on campuses up over 500% since October 7, enforcement of this policy cannot come soon enough.

The rise in anti-Semitism at elite universities is a growing crisis. Many campuses, including Columbia, have seen protests that include chants for ethnic cleansing, vandalism, and harassment of Jewish students. As Senate Republicans prepare to support Trump’s efforts to hold universities accountable, Barnard College may find itself at the center of a national battle over free speech, hate speech, and campus safety.

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