Columbia University students set up camp on the South Lawn of the Morningside Heights campus on Wednesday before a group of top officials attended a congressional hearing on campus anti-Semitism in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, the university president requested the New York City Police Department to remove them from the campus, stating that the students’ actions were “destructive and dangerous” to the institution and the community. That day, over 100 protesters were taken away in handcuffs by the police.
According to local television footage, New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban and high-ranking police officials were present at Columbia University, where a large number of police officers had gathered, along with many students wearing headscarves symbolizing Palestine.
Columbia President Dr. Nemat Shafik stated in a press release, “I have taken this unusual step because we are in an unusual situation; their camp violates a long list of rules and policies.”
Since Wednesday, the school had been issuing warning letters to the students in the tents, but the students refused to leave.
These pro-Hamas university students have been holding various forms of protest in New York since October 7 last year when Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians. Last week, their march caused traffic disruption on the Brooklyn Bridge and surrounding areas.
Videos online show students chanting, “We are all Hamas!”
The latest report from the New York City Police Department shows a 45% increase in anti-Jewish crimes in New York City in 2024. Police Commissioner Caban said at a security briefing before the Jewish Passover on Wednesday, “The terrorist attack on October 7 changed the public security situation in New York, and we are still feeling the chain reaction of that terrible day.”
Another report released this week by the Anti-Defamation League shows a 140% increase in anti-Jewish incidents nationwide in 2023, with a 110% rise in New York.
At Wednesday’s congressional hearing, Columbia President Shafik took a strong stance against campus anti-Semitism but was accused by Republican lawmakers of inconsistency in her actions. Waves of anti-Jewish and pro-Hamas sentiments have been stirring on Ivy League campuses, including Columbia, leading to many wealthy Jewish alumni withdrawing their donations from their alma maters. The presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania also resigned due to their inadequate response to campus anti-Semitism.
After police intervention at Columbia University, most students evacuated voluntarily, while some were arrested by the police.