Police Detain Columbia Students, Evacuate Occupied Building Amid Campus Unrest

Scores of police officers swarmed Columbia University’s campus in the heart of New York City on Tuesday to clear out a building occupied by pro-Palestinian student demonstrators and detain protesters.

Police entered Hamilton Hall through a second-floor window accessed from a truck with a ladder, later leading handcuffed students out of the building and into police vehicles.

The occupation of the hall began at dawn by demonstrators protesting the high death toll in Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. They had vowed to resist any eviction.

This action reflects the struggle university administrations across the United States have faced in managing pro-Palestinian demonstrations on numerous campuses.

In a letter to the New York Police Department, Columbia University president Minouche Shafik stated that the occupation was led by individuals unaffiliated with the university and requested assistance in clearing all individuals from Hamilton Hall and other campus encampments.

Shafik also asked for police presence on campus until at least May 17 to prevent encampments from reappearing, with commencement scheduled for May 15.

The protesters criticized Shafik’s statement, calling it horrifying and accusing her of using words like “care” and “safety” inappropriately.

The ongoing demonstrations, the most widespread and sustained unrest on US college campuses since the Vietnam War era, have resulted in the arrest of hundreds of students and activists.

Earlier, protesters at Columbia were observed using ropes to lift supplies to the second floor, indicating they intended to remain in the building.

The White House under President Joe Biden criticized the seizure of Hamilton Hall, calling it the wrong approach and emphasizing that it did not represent peaceful protest.

Former President Donald Trump condemned the perceived rise in anti-Semitism and criticized Biden for what he deemed as inaction.

The protests, centered at Columbia, have posed a challenge for university administrators grappling with balancing free speech rights with concerns over anti-Semitism and hate speech.

The unrest has spread throughout US higher education, with students erecting tent encampments on campuses nationwide.

Demonstrators at Columbia have demanded divestment from Israel, a demand the university has rejected, warning that occupying students face expulsion.

Police at various universities, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Cal Poly Humboldt in California, have moved to clear encampments and arrest protesters.

Brown University agreed to hold a vote on divesting from Israel in exchange for student protesters removing their encampment.

Footage of police in riot gear dispersing campus protests has drawn international attention.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk expressed concern over heavy-handed tactics used to disperse the protests, emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly.

Shafik noted that many Jewish students had left Columbia’s campus out of fear, condemning anti-Semitic actions and language as unacceptable.

The Gaza conflict began with an attack by Hamas militants on Israel, resulting in a significant death toll on both sides.

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