NYPD clears Columbia student occupation, arrests hundreds across the city – Mondoweiss
On Tuesday night the NYPD arrested 119 Palestine protesters at Columbia University while clearing out a university building that had been occupied by students protesting Israel’s war on Gaza. In addition, 163 protesters were arrested at the City University of New York (CUNY) in what appeared to be a coordinated attack by the city government on student protest encampments.
Hundreds of cops showed up at Columbia last night, and many entered the second floor of Columbia’s Hamilton Hall through an extendable ramp connected to a massive police vehicle and used flash bangs to disorient the protesters.
“TO BE CLEAR, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HAS CALLED THE COPS ONTO ITS OWN STUDENTS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO WEEKS, ON THE 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN THEY LAST CALLED THE POLICE ONTO CAMPUS TO ARREST OVER 700 PROTESTING THE VIETNAM WAR & HARLEM GENTRIFICATION ON APRIL 30TH, 1968,” tweeted Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine.
Many on the scene reported police violence. “Just got out of jail again after being arrested 12 hours ago, this time for protesting outside the gates of my own campus,” tweeted a Columbia student. “I was thrown onto the ground and pinned down by 6-7 cops after having my phone knocked out of my hand because the cop got mad i was livestreaming it.”
In a letter to the NYPD, Columbia’s president, Minouche Shafik, requested police presence through at least May 17 “to maintain order and ensure encampments are not reestablished.”
Columbia’s “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” was erected two weeks ago amid ongoing protests at the university over the school’s financial connections to Israel. Shafik had previously authorized the police to sweep the camp on April 18, which led to the arrest of over 100 students. Since Columbia launched its encampment more than 120 schools across the country have started their own.
In addition to the Columbia crackdown, dozens were also arrested at the City College of New York (CUNY). “Students have a right to demonstrate peacefully and exercise their First Amendment rights. Tonight’s actions were taken in response to specific and repeated acts of violence and vandalism, not in response to peaceful protest,” said a spokesperson from the school. “CUNY will continue working to keep our community free from violence, intimidation and harassment.”
“We will not be intimidated by these brutal and spineless tactics,” said the group CUNY for Palestine in a statement. “We realize they express the university’s fear of our commitment to the Palestinian national liberation struggle. We take our lead from the steadfast resistance of the Palestinian people, who face far greater threats and challenges than we do here.”
“As we write, the IOF is preparing to invade Rafah, with reports that military-aged men are being prevented from leaving,” it continues. “Our university’s complicity in Israel’s brutal genocide is the reason we created this encampment, and it is the reason we will continue to fight for our five demands: disclose and divest, a full academic boycott of Israel, protection for students and workers who stand in solidarity with Palestine, the demilitarization of CUNY and Harlem, and a people’s CUNY not beholden to big donors. We will not stop until these demands are met.”
The school’s reaction was condemned by many across social media, including some elected officials.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) put out a statement expressing his “outrage” over the police presence at the schools. “The militarization of college campuses, extensive police presence, and arrest of hundreds of students are in direct opposition to the role of education as a cornerstone of our democracy.” it reads. “I call upon the Columbia administration to stop this dangerous escalation before it leads to further harm, and allow the faculty back onto campus so that all parties can collectively come to a solution that centers humanity over hate.”
“The continued repression and violence against anti-war student activists and their allies by Columbia University, NYPD, and Mayor Adams is abhorrent and barbarous,” tweeted Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO). “The nationwide crackdown on protesters must end.”
However, many politicians had pushed for the crackdown. A day before the sweep, 21 Democratic lawmakers published a letter condemning Columbia for failing to shut down the encampments and accusing student protesters of antisemitism.
“The time for negotiation is over; the time for action is now,” it read.
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