New York Police Clears Protestors from Columbia University

  • Publish date: Wednesday، 01 May 2024 | Last update: Tuesday، 10 December 2024

The police entered the campus to clear pro-Palestinian protestors from an academic building.

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New York Police entered Columbia University grounds late Tuesday, Apr. 30 to clear pro-Palestinian student protestors who had occupied an academic building. 

This was the second time that the university administration requested police assistance to clear the pro-Palestinian student encampment on campus since the protests started two weeks ago. 

Initial reports state that arrests were made, but it is not clear how many individuals were taken into custody. 

A letter from Columbia University President Nemat Shafik shows that she has requested the presence of the New York Police Department (NYPD) until Friday, May 17. 

A small group of students on Tuesday, Apr. 30 took over Hamilton Hall, calling for the building to be renamed Hind Hall, after a six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab who was killed during the war in Gaza. 

They entered the building after negotiations between university faculty and demonstrators failed. The group barricaded the building's doors with furniture and tables. 

Before the police action on Tuesday, Columbia faculty and students shared screenshots online of an order from the university that warned of disciplinary action if students left their spaces on the Morningside campus. 

More than 100 people were arrested on the Columbia University campus on Thursday, Apr. 18 after the police received an order from the university administration. 

Image source: @hiddenpalestine Instagram page