Nearly 300 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at Columbia University and City College on Tuesday night, as the New York Police Department (NYPD) moved in to clear unsanctioned encampments and quell demonstrations that had turned violent. The arrests, which included 173 at City College and 119 at Columbia, came after university officials requested police assistance in response to escalating tensions and concerns for public safety.
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, in a letter to NYPD Deputy Commissioner Michael Gerber, stated that the "building occupation, the encampments, and related disruptions pose a clear and present danger to persons, property, and the substantial functioning of the University." She requested the NYPD's help in clearing individuals from Hamilton Hall and all campus encampments, expressing "utmost regret" at the decision.
The situation at Columbia University escalated when protesters forced their way into Hamilton Hall, smashing windows and doors, and barricading themselves inside. The NYPD responded by setting up a massive presence outside the university and eventually entering the building through a second-floor window using a large vehicle with an extendable ramp. Officers, wearing helmets, pried open doors and used flash bangs to disorient the protesters as they made their way inside.
Meanwhile, at City College, protesters clashed with police, hurling anti-police chants and igniting flares. The NYPD played recorded warnings, threatening arrests, as they erected barricades to close campus entrances and surrounding streets. In response to the growing unrest, City College President Vince Boudreau announced that all campus operations would move online until further notice, urging community members to stay away from the campus.
In a press conference on Wednesday morning, New York City Mayor Eric Adams blamed "outside agitators" for "training and co-opting" the otherwise peaceful protests, turning them into potentially violent demonstrations. "There is a movement to radicalize young people," Adams said, emphasizing that a small group can influence and co-opt a larger movement.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, Rebecca Weiner, noted that individuals associated with more aggressive tactics were spotted at Columbia, raising concerns about the escalating situation. Police Commissioner Edward Caban added, "The situation had deteriorated to the point where the safety of students, staff and the public was at risk."
The arrests resulted in charges ranging from trespassing and criminal mischief to burglary, with the NYPD stating that the vast majority of arrests resulted in no injuries. Mayor Adams defended the decision to authorize the NYPD's intervention on campus, saying, "It was a tough decision. The action had to end and we brought it to a peaceful conclusion."
As the arrested protesters were processed at NYPD headquarters, supporters gathered outside, cheering each time someone was released from police custody. The ongoing demonstrations at Columbia University and City College are part of a larger movement calling for divestment from companies doing business with Israel, with similar protests occurring across the country.
