Several Jewish students at Cooper Union College in New York City were seen locked in a library while pro-Palestinian protesters banged on the doors.
On Wednesday evening, journalist Yashar Ali shared a video that showed four students huddled together in the library.
Meanwhile, pounding could be heard on the doors as well as chants in support of Palestinians.
“Jewish students at Cooper Union are in the library as protestors pound on the door. Listen with sound on,” Ali wrote.
Watch the video below:
Jewish students at Cooper Union are in the library as protestors pound on the door.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) October 25, 2023
Listen with sound on. pic.twitter.com/pwYRo5KA9X
The moment comes as pro-Palestinian protests have been seen on college campuses around the United States, with some instances of demonstrators expressing support for Hamas — the terrorist organization that carried out the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel.
City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino shared the video and wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, “No big deal, just a few Jewish kids barricaded in a library while a mob tries to break the doors down to get them. At a prestigious university in New York City. In 2023. Things are going swimmingly in our progressive city.”
“We are truly in the best of hands with the left completely in charge of every institution. We should definitely give the DSA even more power,” she added.
No big deal, just a few Jewish kids barricaded in a library while a mob tries to break the doors down to get them. At a prestigious university in New York City. In 2023.
— Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (@VickieforNYC) October 25, 2023
Things are going swimmingly in our progressive city. We are truly in the best of hands with the left… https://t.co/YvIXCvR8fv
Meanwhile, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov tweeted on Thursday morning she spoke to four students who were in the library.
According to their account, the protests were supposed to be outside, but demonstrators entered the building.
“The Jewish students barricaded in the library were TERRIFIED, some of them SHAKEN. They believed they could’ve been physically assaulted and injured, and feared for their well-being. One of the slogans heard was ‘Globalize the intifada from New York to Gaza,'” Vernikov wrote.
8. The Jewish students barricaded in the library were TERRIFIED, some of them SHAKEN. They believed they could've been physically assaulted and injured, and feared for their well-being. One of the slogans heard was "Globalize the intifada from New York to Gaza"
— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) October 26, 2023
An official from the college told Fox News a less dramatic version of the incident, saying, “The Library was closed for approximately 20 minutes while student protestors moved through our building. Some students who were previously in the library remained during this time. All students have now dispersed.”
Additionally, New York City Mayor Eric Adams posted on X that law enforcement was “present on scene and was coordinating with school security during the entire event, ensuring no one was injured.”
“While the students at Cooper Union have a right to peacefully protest, hate has no place in our city,” he added.
