New York City Mayor Eric Adams, along with NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, held a press conference at the NYPD headquarters on April 30th to issue a final warning to the protesters who refuse to leave Columbia University. Mayor Adams stated that it has been confirmed that there are external forces unrelated to Columbia University participating in the demonstrations, and Commissioner Caban assured that the police will provide support if needed by the university.
The Mayor emphasized during the press conference that the current situation has escalated to a public safety level. He emphasized that “the external forces are absolutely unrelated to Columbia University or any educational institution in New York City.” Adams pointed out that some students may not be aware of the nature of the activities they are involved in, but if anyone violates the university’s orders, they should immediately leave the campus.
Adams also urged families and guardians to call their children participating in the protests to leave the campus before potential conflicts escalate. He stressed the importance of safety for both the protesters and others, stating that “these external activists are clearly not Columbia students, and their presence violates the explicit regulations of Columbia University.”
On Monday night, Columbia University issued a statement demanding that the protesters vacate the campus. Just after midnight on the 30th, the main protest organization, Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), announced that protesters had occupied Hamilton Hall, leading to two consecutive statements from the university. Ben Chang, the Vice Dean of Columbia, emphasized in the statement on the 30th that the university respects the outcome of protests and negotiations, but refuses to concede the part where protesters occupy Hamilton Hall: “Students occupying the building will face expulsion.”
Commissioner Caban stated that only the university has the authority to handle campus property, and the events of the past two days have been unacceptable. His stance aligned with Mayor Adams, stating that “peaceful protests have been manipulated by professional outsiders,” pointing out that professional external individuals were involved in the demonstrations and occupation of Hamilton Hall to escalate the situation further.
Caban added, “The NYPD will provide assistance promptly whenever the university needs our help.”
During the press conference, Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Ulam Weiner, responsible for intelligence and counterterrorism at the NYPD, showed the media a video of non-Columbia students forming a human barrier to help protesters break windows and enter Hamilton Hall, as well as footage of protesters carrying a barricade into the building.
Deputy Commissioner Weiner highlighted the actions of the protesters in the video, such as placing obstacles, damaging property, and blocking entrances in Hamilton Hall, which have posed public safety issues for both students and protesters.