A former Bloomberg News reporter was taken into custody this month during a protest against Israel that occurred at Columbia University’s main library, as reported by law enforcement.
Jason Kao, who has also worked at the New York Times, faces a charge of criminal trespassing following an incident on May 7 when NYPD officers intervened to restore order in Butler Library on the university’s prestigious Morningside Heights campus, according to sources.
Kao received a citation for the desk area outside after being arrested on campus.
The situation inside the library escalated, resulting in many arrests as demonstrators caused disruptions.
A spokesperson for Bloomberg confirmed Monday that Kao is no longer affiliated with their organization. However, they did not provide details about whether he was fired or if he left voluntarily.
This event marked both an arrest and what appears to be loss of employment for Kao.
Details of Kao’s involvement during the protest have yet to be clarified, especially considering he graduated from Columbia in 2022 and contributed to the university newspaper.
The NYPD reported that during the protest, they had to part ways with 81 individuals, as violent disruptions included property damage and loud disturbances, impeding students who were preparing for final exams.
Claire Shipman, the Deputy School President, noted that two security guards sustained injuries amid the chaos, which involved masked protesters.
Following the events, over 65 students were temporarily suspended, and 33 individuals from other institutions, along with some graduates, were banned from campus.
Kao had previously been part of a Fellowship Program with the New York Times and most recently contributed to an article for Bloomberg on May 1. His now-deleted social media account displayed numerous posts regarding the Israeli-Hamas conflict following the group’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Among others arrested during the library protest was Ramona Sarusgaard, the 18-year-old daughter of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Efforts to contact Kao for comments were unsuccessful Monday night.
