Columbia University releases statement after organizing with NYPD to clear pro-Palestine occupation of college buildings
Columbia University released a statement after the school organized with the NYPD to remove pro-Palestinian protesters from university buildings.
On Tuesday evening, New York City police officers dressed in riot gear burst through the window of Hamilton Hall, which students violently took over earlier in the day, to chase away dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters.
Dozens of people were arrested near the building after officers armed with zip ties and pepper spray broke in through a window.
The raid comes after Columbia leaders asked the NYPD to come to campus “to restore order and safety” following an escalation in protester tactics.
In a statement, the university said: “Just after 9 p.m. this evening, the NYPD arrived on campus at the request of the university. This decision was made to restore safety and order to our community.
On Tuesday evening, New York City police officers dressed in riot gear burst through the window of Hamilton Hall, which students violently took over earlier in the day, to chase away dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters.
“This decision was made to restore safety and order to our community,” the school said. (photo: a demonstrator is stopped by officers)
NYPD officers are seen arresting a protester as she sits on the ground with a keffiyeh around her neck
“We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. After the university learned overnight that Hamilton Hall was occupied, vandalized and blocked, we were left with no choice.
“Columbia public safety personnel were forced out of the building and a member of our facilities team was threatened. We will not jeopardize the safety of our community or the possibility of further escalation.
“The leadership team, including the Board of Trustees, met throughout the night and into the early morning, consulting with safety experts and law enforcement to determine the best plan to protect our students and the entire Columbia community.
The statement continued: “We determined early this morning that this was a law enforcement matter and that the NYPD was best positioned to determine and implement an appropriate response.”
“We believe that the group that broke in and occupied the building is led by individuals not affiliated with the university. Unfortunately, this dangerous decision followed over a week of productive conversations with representatives of the West Lawn encampment.
“We have significantly limited the number of people on the Morningside campus as of Tuesday morning. During the day, we informed our community about access to campus buildings, and we will continue to do so in the coming days.
“The decision to contact the NYPD was in response to the actions of the protesters, not the cause they are advocating. We have made it clear that campus life cannot be interrupted indefinitely by protesters who break the rules and the law.
A protester is seen through a rainy NYPD bus window as officers load them up after kicking them out of the school building
An encampment first emerged at the school on April 17, after university president Minouche Shafik went before Congress to address anti-Semitism on campus.
Another protester is seen with her hands behind her back and keffiyeh around her neck as an officer escorts her
“Early Tuesday, protesters chose to escalate to an alarming and intolerable situation – including by destroying property, breaking doors and windows, blocking entrances and evicting our facilities and public safety workers – and we are responding appropriately as we have long clearly have made that we would.
“The safety of our community, especially our students, remains our top priority.”
An encampment first emerged at the school on April 17, after university president Minouche Shafik went before Congress to address anti-Semitism on campus.
Before the NYPD raid, the Ivy League said students occupying the building “will be suspended.”
“Protesters were told that their participation in the camp violated numerous university policies. We gave everyone in the camp the opportunity to leave peacefully.”
“By adhering to university policy, they would be able to complete the semester.”
During a press conference just before police stormed the campus, Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner warned that the protest had been co-opted by outside agitators not affiliated with the university.
She emphasized that the occupation is the potential to spread to other campus buildings, as well as other universities across the country.
“This is not about what is happening abroad, it is not about the last seven months, it is about a completely different commitment to sometimes violent protest activities such as occupation,” she said.
Protesters are seen linking their arms as police officers entered Columbia University
Members of the New York Police Department’s strategic response team proceed to an entrance to Columbia University just before the raid
“They have no right to be on campus and this is against university policy and most importantly, it puts students, the university and the communities at risk.”
“Given what we saw last night, we believe these tactics are the result of the mentoring of students by these outside actors.”
A warning was issued to students on the Morningside campus moments before officers descended.
The occupation of Hamilton Hall was the latest escalation of the unrest that has rocked the school in recent weeks.
Police confirmed that those occupying the building could be charged with trespassing and burglary, while those in the camp could be hit with charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct.
Activists have been camping on the South Lawns of the Ivy League school for a fortnight.
Protesters are demanding that the council divest companies with ties to Israel or companies that profit from the war against Hamas.
University officials have fought to close the encampment, saying it violates university policy.
After the occupation of Hamilton Hall, Shafik warned that those involved would be deported.
More than a hundred activists have been arrested at the school since the camp began.
A first encampment was broken up by NYPD officers. But university officials had vowed not to take similar action for the current protest.
Residents of Hamilton Hall were threatened with eviction and could face criminal charges. (photo: furniture can be seen outside the windows and doors of Hamilton Hall)
Protesters at Columbia University demanded food and water be brought to their encampment so they don’t “die of dehydration and starvation” during a press conference before the NYPD stormed the campus
They gave the students an ultimatum to leave, but few followed the instructions.
“We will not leave until Columbia meets all our demands,” one activist shouted from a balcony in the building after the takeover.
Hours before the raid, protesters at the university demanded that food and water be brought to their encampment so they “would not die of dehydration and hunger.”
Students called for “basic humanitarian assistance” to those illegally occupying Hamilton Hall.
A spokesperson for the protesters emphasized that Columbia is still “obligated to provide food to students who pay for a meal plan.”
“Do you want students to die of dehydration and starvation, or become seriously ill, even if you don’t agree with them?” the brash spokesperson asked rhetorically to university leaders.
‘If the answer is no, you should allow basic assistance. It’s crazy to say because we’re on an Ivy League campus, but this is basic humanitarian assistance that we’re asking for. Can people please just have a glass of water?’
The spokesperson addressed the media gathered in Hamilton Hall to question them about the occupation.
“It’s about what kind of community and obligation Columbia has to its students,” the spokesperson said.
“We ask them not to violently prevent us from delivering basic humanitarian aid.”