Hundreds of New York police officers stormed into the Columbia University grounds on Tuesday night, where campus protesters had occupied Hamilton Hall since Monday night, tying doors shut with ropes and blocking entrances with furniture.
Live footage of the event, broadcast by CNN, showed the helmeted officers met by angry protesters, shouting and chanting, outside Hamilton Hall.
Officers later used a SWAT ramp, attached to the roof of a large truck to enter the upper floors of Hamilton Hall. Activists have renamed the building “Hind’s Hall” in honour of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli tanks in Gaza as paramedics tried to rescue her.
These Columbia students face expulsion, spokesperson Ben Chang said on Tuesday. Shortly after the NYPD began entering the campus grounds, Columbia released a lengthy statement saying that it “had no choice” but to involve law enforcement.
“We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. After the University learned overnight that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized, and blockaded, we were left with no choice,” the statement read.
Dozens of protesters were arrested, the NYPD said, adding that all areas had been cleared by around 11pm local time.
Columbia president Nemat Shafik has requested that the NYPD maintain a presence on the campus until May 17 – two days after the university’s graduation ceremony.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reacts to NYPD entering Columbia campus
Mike Bedigan1 May 2024 07:30
Biden condemns Columbia protests who have occupied campus building in support of Gaza: ‘Wrong approach’
“The president believes that forcibly taking over a building on campus is absolutely the wrong approach,” John Kirby, National Security Council spokesman, said on Tuesday.
His comments come less than a week after the Biden administration signed a bill to send $26.4 billion to Israel to support its ongoing war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Over 100 Columbia students were arrested two weeks ago during peaceful protests at the campus.
Katie Hawkinson1 May 2024 07:00
NYPD denies use of tear gas following false reports
The NYPD has denied that officers used tear gas on demonstrators at Columbia Univeisty, saying that false reports had been ciculated online.
Officers may use flashbang grenades “to deflect or surprise” protesters, CNN reported.
Mike Bedigan1 May 2024 06:30
Police entered campus building using SWAT ramp
Live footage from the scene showed multiple officers entering the upper storeys of Hamilton Hall building on campus, using a SWAT ramp on top of a large truck.
CNN noted how the NYPD officers were only wearing helmets, no full tactical gear.
Mike Bedigan1 May 2024 05:30
Watch: Columbia protesters detained by police as NYPD move to clear campus
Mike Bedigan1 May 2024 04:30
ICYMI: Columbia will have ‘blood on its hands’ if police bring weapons to campus, student says Tuesday
Katie Hawkinson1 May 2024 04:00
Columbia requesting NYPD presence on campus until May 17
Columbia University president Nemat Shafik has reportedly requested that the NYPD maintain a presence on the campus until May 17, CNN reported.
The outlet’s own student journalist Julia Vargas is reporting live on the scene of Tuesday’s protest removal, and is due to graduate in the Columbia commencement ceremony on May 15.
“I have family coming… for graduation. I hope that of course that it can happen but at the same time, is there a climate for celebration?” Ms Vargas said.
“I spoke to a lot of students today and a lot of them feel caught between… if police are on campus that’s going to dampen the mood even more. I’m interested to see who will even attend.”
Mike Bedigan1 May 2024 03:30
Watch: NYPD drag away Columbia protesters as police heckled by angry crowd
Mike Bedigan1 May 2024 03:15
It’s started to rain…
Rain has begun to pour down in New York and at the scene of the Columbia University campus where police are in the process of detaining and dispersing demonstrators.
It remains to be seen what impact, if any, this will have on the operations.
Mike Bedigan1 May 2024 03:11
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
