NYPD Arrests College Students and Forcibly Clears Out Protests at Columbia University and CUNY

On Tuesday, April 30th, a significant police operation unfolded at Columbia University and the City College of New York (CUNY), where NYPD officers were deployed to clear out protesters who had taken over academic buildings and established encampments. This decisive action came after weeks of growing tensions on campus, related to anti-Israel sentiments among the protesting groups.

Dozens of demonstrators have seized control of a building at Columbia University in New York, blocking entry points and displaying a Palestinian flag from a window, amid heightened tensions over campus protests linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

This incident shows a notable intensification of protests at universities across the United States.

Early Tuesday, participants were seen linking arms and erecting barriers at Hamilton Hall on the Manhattan campus, a site previously occupied during the 1968 civil rights and anti-Vietnam War protests at the university.

The protest, which began late Monday, was extensively covered by WKCR-FM, the student-run radio station, detailing the occupation that defied the university’s 2 p.m. deadline for vacating a nearby encampment.

According to a university update, despite the ultimatum which threatened suspensions, hundreds of demonstrators opted to remain. 

The university later stated, “We have begun suspending students as part of this next phase of our efforts to ensure safety on our campus.”

Columbia University’s administration, under President Minouche Shafik, announced earlier that negotiations with the protesters had failed, leading to a firm stance against divesting from Israel. 

This decision comes as universities nationwide struggle with similar protests as the academic year concludes. 

The increasing confrontations have prompted arrests in several states, including Texas, Utah, and Virginia, reflecting a national upheaval.

The protesters are calling for their institutions, many of which have substantial endowments, to sever financial ties with Israel through divestment. 

This includes selling off stock in Israeli companies. The protestors also advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and urge university leaders to support their divestment demands.

At Columbia University, the NYPD targeted historic Hamilton Hall, which had been occupied by protesters. The operation began shortly after 9 p.m., with Emergency Service Unit officers using a Mobile Adjustable Ramp System to bypass barricades and enter the building through second-floor windows. This dramatic entrance was necessary after protesters blocked the main doors using techniques that students across the U.S. have learned during active shooter drills to combat trespassers on school grounds, creating a tense standoff with law enforcement.

Inside Hamilton Hall, police used distraction devices to disperse the protesters, who were then arrested and removed from the building. Approximately 100 individuals were detained during the sweep, facing charges ranging from trespassing to criminal mischief. The operation also extended to clearing the nearby anti-Israel encampment, which had disrupted campus activities for an extended period.

Simultaneously, similar actions were taken at CUNY’s City College, where officers dismantled the encampment. These coordinated efforts by the NYPD were in response to what had become a significant disruption to educational institutions and a broader security concern.

Columbia University administration expressed regret over the necessity of police intervention but emphasized the need to maintain safety and order on campus. The university’s statement highlighted the unwillingness to allow ongoing disruptions that jeopardized the community’s well-being. 

LittleAfrica News notes that Columbia University also called police to remove students who protested the Vietnam War and who gathered in support of the 1968 civil rights movement. In the years following, Columbia University has acknowledged that the protests were for a just cause.

The aftermath of the police action has sparked a variety of reactions from students, faculty, and external observers. While some criticized the forceful methods used by the NYPD, others argued that the intervention was essential to restore order and ensure the continuation of academic and administrative operations.

On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized pro-Palestinian protesters for “exceeding their rights” to engage in vigorous debate.

Johnson said, “Shutting down the campuses, you know, control of buildings…at some point you cross the line.”

He added, “This is not protected free speech. This is violating the rights of others.”

The United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk expressed his concern on Tuesday over the aggressive tactics used by security forces across U.S. campuses.

Turk said, “I am concerned that some of the law enforcement actions across a series of universities appear disproportionate in their impacts.”

Notably, many have compared the recent aggression by university officials and police forces to be reminiscent of the Kent State Massacre, in which unarmed college students were shot and killed by the National Guard in May 1970 while protesting the U.S.’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

Concurrently, a legal group has petitioned the U.S. Department of Education to examine Columbia’s adherence to the Civil Rights Act concerning the treatment of pro-Palestinian students.

As the situation at Columbia and CUNY stabilizes, discussions continue about the implications of such protests on campus life and the balance between free expression and maintaining a safe educational environment. The events of April 30 will likely prompt further examination of protest policies and security strategies at universities across New York City.