New York City Mayor Eric Adams has publicly urged Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to prosecute the Columbia Library rioters, emphasizing that failing to hold the perpetrators accountable would send the wrong message to those who endanger campus safety and promote antisemitism. The Columbia Library rioters stormed Butler Library earlier this month, injuring two security officers and handing out pro-Hamas propaganda as students prepared for final exams.
On May 7, approximately 80 masked protesters forcibly entered Butler Library, disrupting students during finals preparation. The demonstrators, chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, defaced property and declared the library a “liberated zone.” Columbia’s Acting President Claire Shipman condemned the takeover as a security threat, leading to NYPD intervention and multiple arrests.
Mayor Adams, speaking to the Washington Free Beacon, stressed the importance of legal consequences: “I think the DA going forward with these charges is very important to discourage people from carrying out these actions, when you break into a dorm building, when you destroy property, when you harass students and menace them, we need to move forward in a very aggressive fashion to send a strong, loud message that this is not going to be tolerable,”
This call for action follows Bragg’s 2024 decision to dismiss charges against numerous individuals involved in a similar occupation of Columbia’s Hamilton Hall. Bragg cited a lack of evidence and the protesters’ clean criminal records as reasons for the dismissal. Critics argue that such leniency undermines the rule of law and fails to deter future disruptions.
Bragg’s prosecutorial approach, influenced by restorative justice principles, has faced criticism for its perceived softness on crime. His 2022 memo highlighted concerns about prosecuting youth in adult court, suggesting it could lead to higher recidivism rates. However, opponents argue that this philosophy may embolden unlawful behavior, particularly in politically charged environments like university campuses.
Adams, aligning with federal efforts to combat anti-Semitism, has collaborated with the Department of Justice to address hate crimes and civil rights violations. He emphasized the city’s full cooperation with federal authorities to ensure that acts of anti-Semitism are met with appropriate legal responses.
