New York City police forces entered Columbia University campus on Tuesday night (April 30th) to disperse anti-Semitic protesters.
The live TV footage showed police officers entering the elite campus located in Upper Manhattan, which has been a focal point of student protest activities that have spread to dozens of schools across the United States.
Riot police shouted, “We are clearing the area” as they moved towards the blocked building entrance. Meanwhile, dozens of other officers advanced towards the protest camp.
After the police entered Columbia University campus, several dozen demonstrators were arrested. With their hands tied behind their backs, they were escorted onto buses under police guard.
Columbia University officials had earlier warned that students occupying Hamilton Hall would face expulsion.
At a late-night press conference held a few hours before the police intervention at Columbia, Mayor Eric Adams and police officials stated that the hall was being occupied by “external instigators.” They claimed that these individuals had no affiliation with the university and that law enforcement was aware they were inciting illegal activities.
Adams believed that some student protesters weren’t fully aware that there were “external actors” among them.
“We cannot and will not allow peaceful gatherings to turn into senseless violence. We cannot wait for things to escalate further. This must end now,” the mayor said.
In an evening statement, Columbia stated that allowing police onto campus was to “restore community safety and order.”
The statement emphasized, “We believe the group that entered and occupied the building is led by individuals with no affiliation to Columbia.”
In the early hours of Tuesday, anti-Semitic protesters broke windows at Hamilton Hall on campus, barricaded the entrance with tables, formed human chains as roadblocks, and chanted pro-Palestinian slogans.
Police noted the escalating tactics during the occupation, including property damage, blocking entrances with roadblocks, and destruction of surveillance cameras.
Earlier, a law enforcement officer told CNN that at least half of the protesters on the Columbia campus were not students and had no association with the university.
The university also sent an emergency alert to students about the intensified protest activities on campus, advising them to shelter in place for their safety. Non-compliance could result in disciplinary action.
Students were instructed to avoid the affected area until further notice.