NYPD storms Columbia University again

Columbia University said it had called the police to the campus for the second time in less than two weeks after Hamilton Hall was “vandalised and blockaded”.

University president Minouche Sha k has also asked the NYPD to maintain a presence on campus at least till May 17 to prevent further encampments or occupations.

On April 18, Ms. Sha k’s decision to authorise the NYPD’s sweep of the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment”, which led to the arrest of over 100 protesters, had left many community members stunned. Over 100 faculty members from the university on April 22 gathered on the campus for a walkout to condemn the suspension and arrests of students and call for amnesty and protection of academic freedom.

According to the NYPD, protesters had barricaded the halls with soda machines, chairs and other furniture. Meanwhile student protestors alleged that the NYPD o¨cials turned o£ their body cameras while entering the building.

The move also came shortly after New York Mayor Eric Adams said in a press conference at 6 p.m. that the protest at Columbia University “has basically been co-opted by professional outside agitators” who intend to sow chaos.

“Once I became aware of the outside agitators who were part of this operation, as Columbia mentioned in their letter and their request with the New York City Police Department, it was clear we had to take appropriate actions, when our intelligence division identi ed those who were professionals, well trained.”

An alert sent from the school Tuesday night urged students on the Morningside campus to “shelter in place for your safety due to heightened activity” and “avoid the area until further notice”. (Anisha Dutta is a freelance journalist based in New York)