On the night of May 13th, a group of student protesters opposed to Israel's actions entered the library at the City University of New York Graduate Centre. They renamed the library after a university that was destroyed during the conflict in Gaza. 

Protesters adorned the Mina Rees Library on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue with Palestinian flags, banners, and signs, renaming it "The Al Aqsa University Library." They saw this act as a protest against the university's ties to Israel and the US's backing of Israel's actions in Gaza. The original Al Aqsa University Library, situated in Gaza and severely affected by Israeli airstrikes, stood as Gaza's oldest public university. Following their demonstration, the protesters asserted that they had "de-occupied" the building. 

Approximately thirty-six students chanted "Disclose. Divest. We will not stop, we will not rest" as they occupied the building lobby, as reported by the New York Post. Meanwhile, outside, fifty protesters attempted to join them but were prevented from entering by authorities. 

Inside, the students also honoured the memory of 94 Palestinian professors who lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The students explained that their protest aimed to pressure CUNY into divesting $8.5 million from companies involved in weapons, technology, and surveillance, which they view as complicit in the oppression of Palestinians. 

"In New York and Palestine, protesting isn't criminal," echoed the chants in the lobby, as the students demanded that the university dismiss all charges against those arrested during a police raid on a City College encampment. 

CUNY Graduate Centre President Joshua Brumberg engaged in negotiations with the student protesters in the lobby, aiming to find a resolution. The students stipulated that they would vacate the premises if he publicly endorsed amnesty for all pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested at any CUNY protest and extended amnesty to those present at the library on May 13th. However, Brumberg only agreed to grant amnesty to those gathered in front of the library that night. No arrests were made by the police yet. 

Image Source: Hindustan Times