On the evening of May 7, 2025, Ramona Sarsgaard, the 18-year-old daughter of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal and actor Peter Sarsgaard, was arrested during a chaotic anti-Israel protest at Columbia University. The incident unfolded as nearly 80 demonstrators stormed the university's Butler Library, where students were preparing for final exams. The protest turned violent, leading to injuries among school safety officers and resulting in a total of 80 arrests.
According to police sources, Ramona received a desk appearance ticket for criminal trespassing. The protestors, chanting slogans such as "Free Palestine," disrupted the library's environment, climbing on furniture and marking tables with colored tape. They also draped large signs over bookshelves and scrawled messages like "Columbia Will Burn" on glass cases inside the library.
As the situation escalated, at least two school safety officers were injured in the melee. In the aftermath, Columbia University officials announced that at least 65 interim suspensions had been handed down to students involved in the protest, pending further investigation. Another 33 individuals, including those from affiliated institutions and unspecified alumni, were barred from campus.
Ramona's involvement in the protest comes amid a wave of demonstrations across the United States related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The protests at Columbia, which have been linked to organizations accused of funding Hamas, have drawn significant media attention and public scrutiny. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded to the events, stating via X that the visa status of the trespassers would be reviewed, declaring that "Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation."
Ramona, who is studying English literature at Columbia, has largely maintained a low profile on social media and has not made public statements regarding the protest or her arrest. Neither her mother, Maggie Gyllenhaal, nor her father, Peter Sarsgaard, has commented on the situation. The couple, married since 2009, also has a 13-year-old daughter named Gloria.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, known for her roles in films such as "The Dark Knight" and "Secretary," has previously discussed her Jewish heritage and the cultural influences that shaped her upbringing. In a 2014 interview with the Jewish Journal, she spoke about how the "intellectual, New York Jewish culture" was infused into her life, despite not having a Jewish name. Peter Sarsgaard, raised Catholic, has also kept a relatively private profile regarding their daughters' upbringing.
The protests at Columbia University have sparked a broader discussion about free speech, activism, and the responsibilities of educational institutions in addressing contentious issues. New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned the violence at the protest, asserting, "As I've said repeatedly, New York City will always defend the right to peaceful protest, but we will never tolerate lawlessness." He expressed solidarity with Jewish students who felt unsafe during the protests.
Governor Kathy Hochul also weighed in, emphasizing that while everyone has the right to protest peacefully, violence and vandalism are unacceptable. The protests have raised questions about the university's handling of previous demonstrations and its relationship with federal funding. Columbia University is currently engaged in a legal battle with the Trump administration over the revocation of over $400 million in federal funding due to its perceived mishandling of anti-Israel protests.
As the university grapples with the fallout from the protests, officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have announced they are monitoring the situation closely. They plan to fingerprint those arrested to determine their immigration status, with warnings issued to foreign students about potential visa revocations for illegal activities.
In light of the protests, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, the group claiming responsibility for the demonstration, issued a statement asserting that their actions were a response to what they view as the university's complicity in imperialist violence. They demanded full financial divestment from what they termed "Zionist occupation, apartheid and genocide" and called for an academic boycott of compliant institutions.
The protests at Columbia University illustrate the intense emotions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and highlight the challenges that educational institutions face in balancing free speech with campus safety. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the university will respond and what consequences the involved students will face.
With tensions running high and the eyes of the nation upon them, Columbia University finds itself at the center of a larger debate about activism, identity, and the role of universities in contemporary political discourse. The events of May 7 have not only impacted those directly involved but have also resonated throughout the university community and beyond, prompting discussions that may shape the future of campus activism.
