In a dramatic turn of events, New York City police executed a late-night raid on Columbia University to apprehend scores of pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had taken over an academic building and established a protest encampment on campus.
The crackdown, which unfolded on Tuesday evening, saw a heavy police presence swarm onto the prestigious Ivy League campus in upper Manhattan. The operation targeted student rallies protesting Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which had gained traction across numerous universities in the United States.
Led by helmeted officers, the police swiftly moved to clear the campus of protesters, with Columbia University President Minouche Shafik requesting police presence until May 17 to prevent the re-establishment of encampments.
The raid focused on Hamilton Hall, an academic building seized by protesters earlier in the day. Police entered the building through a second-story window, using specialized equipment to access the occupied space. Outside, students voiced their dissent, chanting slogans in support of Palestine and criticizing the police action.
The demonstrators, organized under the coalition Columbia University Apartheid Divest, were demanding three concessions from the university: divestment from companies supporting Israel, financial transparency, and amnesty for protesters facing disciplinary actions.
Columbia University’s response to the occupation was stern, with President Shafik denouncing the protesters for vandalism and trespassing. The university had previously warned that students involved in the occupation could face academic expulsion.
The escalation of tensions at Columbia mirrors a broader wave of pro-Palestinian activism sweeping across American campuses in response to the conflict in Gaza. However, the movement has also faced criticism, with some accusing it of fostering anti-Semitic sentiments.
As the situation unfolded, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and police officials attributed the campus unrest to “outside agitators,” claiming they lacked affiliation with Columbia University.
Tuesday’s events mark the latest chapter in a series of protests and counter-protests that have roiled college campuses across the United States, highlighting the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its reverberations within academic communities.