Over 100 People were Arrested as NYPD Tactical Units Cleared Protests at Columbia University.
Columbia Crackdown
Late Tuesday evening, in a marked escalation at Columbia University, more than 100 individuals were arrested as NYPD officers in riot gear strategically cleared Hamilton Hall and its adjacent lawn encampment. This decisive action comes as anti-war demonstrations at U.S. college campuses intensify, pushing the nation’s academic institutions to a critical juncture.
Hamilton Hall, a site steeped in protest history dating back to the anti-Vietnam War era, became the focal point of the recent upheaval. Officers deployed tactical maneuvers, including the use of a ladder truck to enter through windows after protesters had forcibly gained entry, damaging the building’s infrastructure in the process.
NYPD’s Strategic Response
NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, speaking shortly after the operation, emphasized the necessity of the police intervention. “They tried to lock us out, but the NYPD and the people of the city of New York will never be locked out,” he asserted, highlighting that the police had to overcome barriers erected by the protesters, including locked doors and furniture used as makeshift barricades.
The university had requested police intervention after assessing the growing threat to safety and property. During the operation, police employed flash bangs to manage the crowd but confirmed that no tear gas was used. Governor Kathy Hochul, in a statement on Wednesday, commended the NYPD for their “professional and fair” handling of the situation, acknowledging that the outcome “could have been far worse.”
Police Action Leads to Mass Arrests Amid Protests
The operation led to the arrest of 109 students, a situation complicated by the NYPD’s decision to restrict media access during the clearance. This move has sparked criticism from student journalists and others who argue that transparency was compromised, particularly as the NYPD later released an edited, soundless video of the operation, which some claim did not accurately represent the chaos of the event.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has indicated that his office will conduct a thorough review of the arrests, which involved a full processing of individuals rather than the more common issuance of tickets for mass arrests. “As with all our cases, we will carefully review each one based on the facts and law, including an analysis of body cam footage and witness interviews,” Bragg stated.
The operation also resulted in minor injuries, with three individuals needing medical evaluation, as per an FDNY spokesperson. Details on the injuries or the affiliation of the injured parties to the university remain unclear.
Mayor Eric Adams and other authorities praised the NYPD’s restraint and organizational precision, which they believe prevented any serious injuries or violent clashes. “The NYPD’s precision policing ensured that the operation was organized, calm, and that there were no injuries or violent clashes,” Mayor Adams explained, condemning the protestors’ actions that included barricading buildings and destroying property.
Campus Clampdown
The decision to call in police forces was made with “utmost regret” by Columbia University officials, who declared the situation a “clear and present danger to persons, property, and the substantial functioning of the university.” The campus was placed under a shelter-in-place alert before and during the operation, with access to the campus heavily restricted on Wednesday.
Columbia officials later stressed that the acts committed inside Hamilton Hall constituted destruction, disrupting the academic environment and making many students feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.
As the legal proceedings begin to unfold, the university community and the broader public await further developments, hoping for a resolution that balances safety with the right to protest.
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