NYPD Officers Storm Barricaded Columbia Building, Arrest Anti-Israel Protesters by David Zimmerman
Hundreds of New York City police officers equipped with riot gear took dozens of anti-Israel protesters into custody Tuesday evening after Columbia University called in the police to end the pro-Palestinian occupation of a campus building.
Columbia protesters occupied Hamilton Hall early Tuesday morning and blocked the entrances to claim the area as their own. Protesters were seen smashing windows and barricading themselves inside the building, one day after the university began suspending students for refusing to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus.
The New York Police Department received a letter from Columbia president Minouche Shafik authorizing officers to move onto campus, marking the second time the university administration had done so. The NYPD closed off streets around Columbia while moving toward the barricaded campus location. Officers then entered Hamilton Hall through a second-floor window and began pulling people out of the building, according to Columbia radio station WKCR-FM.
Columbia’s property, including Hamilton Hall, was cleared of all pro-Palestinian protesters by around 11 p.m. Tuesday, less than two hours after the law-enforcement raid began.
Large numbers of protesters could be seen getting arrested, zip-tied, and escorted onto buses. Over 100 protesters were arrested at Columbia and the City College of New York, which saw a similar situation developing. Most of the arrests were made at Columbia, according to law enforcement.
The police department denied using tear gas when clashing with protesters; flash-bang grenades and other “distraction devices” were used instead, according to an NYPD spokesperson.
“The decision to reach out to the NYPD was in response to the actions of the protesters, not the cause they are championing,” university spokesman Ben Chang said in a statement. “We have made it clear that the life of campus cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules and the law.”
The building occupation was believed to have been led by people not affiliated with the university, Chang added.
In addition to clearing out all encampments, Shafik asked city police to maintain a presence on campus for at least two more weeks.
“In light of the activities that occurred after the events of April 17-18, 2024, we further request that you retain a presence on campus through at least May 17, 2024 to maintain order and ensure encampments are not reestablished,” Shafik wrote in the letter to NYPD deputy commissioner Michael Gerber. The school’s commencement is scheduled for May 15.
Columbia students were previously ordered to shelter in place, according to an email late Tuesday. “Shelter in place for your safety due to heightened activity on the Morningside campus. Non-compliance may result in disciplinary action. Avoid the area until further notice,” Columbia’s Emergency Management Operations Team told students.
Hours earlier, Mayor Eric Adams urged students to walk away and blamed “professional outside agitators” for co-opting the pro-Palestinian student movement. The campus was closed off to everyone except residents and essential personnel while police conducted the raid.
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