New York: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University were arrested by New York Police Department (NYPD) officials on Tuesday night, escalating tensions as universities across the United States grapple with ongoing protests.
The arrests occurred after protesters seized control of a campus building, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing unrest.
Overnight, demonstrators stormed and occupied a building on Columbia University’s main campus, defiantly hoisting a Palestinian flag from Hamilton Hall.
Law enforcement officers swiftly responded, breaching a second-floor window to gain access to Hamilton Hall. They proceeded to detain the demonstrators, leading them away in zip ties and transferring them to law enforcement vehicles parked near the campus.
In a statement, the university lamented the vandalism and blockade of the facility, asserting that the administration was left with “no choice” but to summon police to campus for the second time in less than two weeks.
Eyewitnesses reported that NYPD officers systematically removed the student protesters from Columbia University’s premises, with their hands bound behind their backs. Chants of “Free, free Palestine” echoed through the night as the protesters were escorted away.
A significant police presence remains at the university campus, particularly outside the entrance of Hamilton Hall, where the demonstration unfolded.
The NYPD intervention commenced just after 9 pm local time on Tuesday, with specialized police teams employing tactical measures to disperse the encampment. The use of a large vehicle and a ramp facilitated entry into Hamilton Hall, which had become a focal point of protest activity.
Columbia University, historically linked to student activism, has witnessed a resurgence of protests, with at least 200 students barricading the entrance to Hamilton Hall. The building holds symbolic significance, having been occupied during the 1968 student protests against the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War.
In a notable development, the university has requested the continued presence of NYPD personnel on campus until at least May 17, extending beyond the scheduled graduation date.
Prior to the arrests, students at Columbia had voted to defy orders to vacate the encampment, underscoring the significance of the protest site as a focal point of pro-Palestinian activism.
The suspension of students at Columbia University comes amid a wave of arrests and tensions at universities nationwide, with demonstrations in support of Palestinians drawing attention and, in some instances, sparking confrontations with law enforcement authorities.
