The New York City Police barged in on the premises of Columbia University late on Tuesday to end the pro-Palestine protests that have taken over the campus for the last two weeks. The police intervened hours after Mayor Eric Adams called for the demonstrations to end.
Some of the visuals that were broadcasted by the media channels showed the police officers storming into the University campus with riot gear. The campus’ well-known Hamilton Hall was barricaded by the protestors and was declared as ‘Hind’s Hall’, referring to a Palestinian child who was killed in the Gaza conflict. As the police approached the hall, protesting students began to chant “Shame! Shame!” The police also ended up arresting many of the protestors to clear the building.
On the same day, Columbia University issued a stern warning to protestors, threatening expulsion and academic repercussions. Originating from reactions to Gaza’s military actions, these protests spread across the US, impacting various universities.
Mayor Adams and NYPD officials attributed the unrest to “outside agitators,” contested by protest leaders. Police intervention aimed to prevent escalation, serving as a last resort.
Initially, protests targeted financial and institutional ties to Gaza conflict-involved companies, demanding divestment and transparency. The protestors later started highlighting broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict issues, gathering attention beyond academia.
The crackdown at Columbia marks a critical juncture in ongoing campus protests. Law enforcement stepped in to preserve peace, balancing students’ rights to peaceful advocacy.
(With Agency Inputs)