New York Police storm Columbia University again; over 100 protesters held
A dramatic scene unfolded at Columbia University in the U.S. late on Tuesday as the New York Police Department (NYPD) brought in a military grade vehicle with an extendable ramp to gain entry to a window of Hamilton Hall, the campus building occupied by anti-war student protesters.
Dozens of NYPD ocers in riot gear swarmed Columbia University around 9.30 p.m. and encircled key areas of the campus including the ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ and Hamilton Hall that had been occupied by student protesters. Around midnight, the entire encampment had been cleared out by the NYPD.
Additional crowds of ofcers entered campus on foot through the main gate. According to the police, ash bangs were used to disorient the protesters as ocers made their way inside Hamilton Hall.
Campus on lockdown
The ocers blocked media and student journalists from entering the premises of Hamilton Hall while putting the entire campus on a lockdown till the area was cleared. The NYPD also threatened those inside Pulitzer Hall, where Columbia’s Journalism School resides, including the Dean, Jelani Cobb, to remain inside till “the area was cleared”. The building was inhabited by faculty and student journalists covering the events.
According to the police, at least 109 people were taken into custody on Tuesday night from Columbia University, and three encampments
Student activists remonstrate with New York police o Columbia University campus on Tuesday.
dismantled.
At least two New York City Department of Correction buses full of protesters were seen being driven away from the school.
One of the organisers and suspended Barnard College student Maryam posted on ◣: “Just got out of jail again after being arrested 12 hours ago, this time for protesting outside
APthe gates of my own campus. I was thrown onto the ground and pinned down by 6 or 7 cops after having my phone knocked out of my hand because the cop got mad I was livestreaming it.”
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 Shak 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. Shak’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 ocials turned o their body cameras while entering the building.
Columbia University Apartheid Divest, the coalition organising the encampment protest, said, “Columbia admin and NYPD prevented Columbia’s volunteer student-run EMS service (CUEMS) from treating students injured by police violence on campus. People who called for help on campus were unable to access medical attention.”
Barricades set up
Police had set up barricades all around the university’s perimeter earlier Tuesday evening, where more protesters gathered. Protesters outside the campus were heard chanting “shame on you” and “free, free Palestine” as ocers made their way inside and led students in handcus out. 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.
In a press conference on Wednesday morning, Mr. Adams said, “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 identied those who were professionals, well trained.” (Anisha Dutta is a freelance journalist based in New York)