The protest, organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest, involved the takeover of the Lawrence A. Wein Reading Room, where students studied for exams. The demonstrators declared the space a “liberated zone,” vandalized property, and demanded that the university divest from companies associated with Israel. The incident injured two campus safety officers, leading to suspensions and potential legal consequences for those involved.
The demonstration began when around 100 activists, many masked and wearing keffiyehs, forced their way into Butler Library’s reading room. They disrupted students preparing for exams, chanted anti-Israel slogans, and vandalized the library with actions such as hanging Palestinian flags and scrawling messages like “COLUMBIA WILL BURN 4 THE MARTYRS” on a glass case. During the takeover, two Columbia Public Safety officers were injured.
Despite verbal warnings, the protesters refused to leave, prompting the New York Police Department (NYPD) to intervene. The NYPD arrested 75-80 individuals, including Ramona Sarsgaard, who was issued a desk appearance ticket for criminal trespassing. This ticket requires her to appear in court at a later date.
Ramona Sarsgaard is a student at Columbia University, an institution with deep family ties—her mother Maggie Gyllenhaal, uncle Jake Gyllenhaal, and maternal grandparents all attended. Maggie Gyllenhaal is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, while Peter Sarsgaard was raised Catholic, adding a nuanced backdrop to Ramona’s participation in an anti-Israel protest.
In past interviews, Maggie described Ramona as an environmental activist and an exceptional student, once humorously predicting she might become a Supreme Court justice. Neither Ramona nor her parents have commented publicly on her arrest.
Her involvement has drawn significant media attention due to her family’s celebrity status, amplifying the spotlight on this incident.
Columbia University acted swiftly, suspending over 65 students involved in the takeover, though it’s unclear if Ramona is among them. The suspensions are interim and pending further investigation. University President Claire Shipman condemned the violence and vandalism, noting a Public Safety officer was injured and the library—a cherished academic space—was defaced. She stated,
“Violence and vandalism, attacking a library, none of this has any place on our campus. These aren’t Columbia’s values.”
This incident is part of a broader wave of anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia since the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated on October 7, 2023. Last spring, protesters occupied Hamilton Hall, leading to arrests and disciplinary actions. Columbia has become a focal point for such activism, with groups like Columbia University Apartheid Divest pushing for divestment through increasingly confrontational tactics. Similar protests have occurred on over 100 U.S. campuses, reflecting widespread tensions over the conflict.
Ramona and others received desk appearance tickets for criminal trespassing, requiring court appearances. In a notable escalation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a review of foreign students’ visa statuses for potential deportation, signaling a stronger federal response to campus protests. While this applies to international students, it’s unknown if any of the 75-80 arrested, including Ramona, fall into this category.
The takeover highlights ongoing debates about the limits of free speech, protest rights, and campus safety at American universities. Columbia’s repeated role as a protest epicenter underscores the intensity of student activism around the Israel-Hamas conflict. Given her prominent family background, Ramona Sarsgaard’s participation adds a celebrity dimension, drawing extra scrutiny to the event.
