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TRENDING NOW IN US NEWS

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Metro

COPS STORM COLUMBIA, BUST 108 ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS AFTER UNIVERSITY PREZ
FINALLY TELLS NYPD TO CLEAR CAMPUS

By Georgett Roberts, Olivia Land, Emily Crane, Joe Marino and Katherine Donlevy

Published April 18, 2024
Updated April 18, 2024, 8:00 p.m. ET

More than 100 protesters were cuffed and hauled away from Columbia
University when NYPD cops in riot gear swarmed the campus Thursday after the
president made the bombshell decision to clear a large anti-Israel protest
encampment.

At least 108 protesters — including some who had to be carried away — were
quickly filed onto waiting NYPD corrections buses.

A huge crowd of other demonstrators then defiantly swarmed to the police
vehicles to temporarily block them from leaving the scene.

In the wake of the busts, officers then set about tearing down dozens of tents
and dumping them in the trash.

19
Protesters being handcuffed at Columbia. Robert Miller

EXPLORE MORE

ILHAN OMAR'S DAUGHTER SUSPENDED FROM BARNARD COLLEGE FOR HER INVOLVEMENT IN
ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS

REP. MAXINE WATERS DOWNPLAYS 'FAKE' IRAN ATTACK ON ISRAEL AS RASHIDA TLAIB
STORMS OUT OF HOUSE DEM MEETING

TRUMP’S ‘HUSH MONEY’ NYC TRIAL LIVE UPDATES: EX PREZ RIPS 'FREEZING’ COURTROOM
AFTER 12 JURORS PICKED

19
A protester is lifted out of the encampment after the NYPD swarmed Columbia.
Robert Miller for NY Post
19
At least 100 protesters were hauled away Thursday. Matt McDermott for NY Post

“I applaud the cops. They are doing the right thing,” one 20-year-old Columbia
student, who didn’t want to be named, told The Post. “We don’t feel safe. We
fear for our lives.”

“Remember who started this? Hamas, that terrorist group,” he added. “We pay a
lot of money to come here and we should feel safe and protected.”

Dozens of cops in body armor and face shields descended on the Morningside
Heights campus shortly after 1 p.m.

19
Cops confront the protesters. Robert Miller

Columbia President Minouche Shafik announced she “authorized” the NYPD to crack
down on the encampment.

Dozens of students occupied the camp on Columbia’s South Lawn, which went up
Wednesday morning, even after the administration had warned participants to
clear out by 9 p.m. Wednesday — or risk preliminary suspensions.

The NYPD arrested 108 protesters — including Isra Hirsi, the daughter of “Squad”
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) — all of whom were slapped with trespassing
summonses.

Two of those protesters were also handed obstruction of governmental
administration summonses.

When cops first entered the campus, they warned demonstrators they would be
arrested if they did not clear out. Armed with bags of zip ties, the officers
then set about detaining those who ignored the warnings.

19
NYPD takes position on campus to make arrests. Robert Miller

While the student protesters sat quietly in rows and didn’t resist arrest, about
500 onlookers jeered and shouted at the authorities to stand down.

“Shame, shame, shame!” the crowd taunted, as others demanded “Let them go!”

Some of the taunts were more “vile” — such as telling the officers to kill
themselves and accusing them of being in the KKK, the NYPD said at an evening
press conference.

“Students have a right to free speech. They do not have a right to violate
university policies and disrupt learning on campus,” Mayor Eric Adams said.

“I know the conflict in the Middle East has left many of us grieving and angry.
This is a painful moment for our city, for our country and for the globe. New
Yorkers have every right to express their sorrow. But that heartbreak does not
give you the right to harass others to spread hate.”

In the lead-up to the crackdown, the NYPD moved to block off 114th and 115th
Streets, which are south of the schools’ main entrance.

Several lines of officers equipped with riot gear helmets were seen walking down
Broadway south of 116th Street, a short distance from the campus gates just
before the NYPD moved in.

Meanwhile, Shafik had earlier emailed students, faculty and staff saying she’d
requested the NYPD’s assistance — despite her hopes that the move would “never
be necessary.”

19
NYPD cops in riot gear descended on Columbia University on Thursday. Matthew
McDermott

“I took this extraordinary step because these are extraordinary
circumstances,” she said. “The individuals who established the encampment
violated a long list of rules and policies.”

The student protesters were warned several times to clear out, the embattled
prez added.

19
A detained protester is brought onto a bus after the NYPD swarmed Columbia.
Jonah Elkowitz / NY Post

19
A person is detained by the NYPD at Columbia University. Jonah Elkowitz / NY
Post
19
The NYPD takes position on Columbia University’s campus. Robert Miller

“We also tried through a number of channels to engage with their concerns and
offered to continue discussions if they agreed to disperse,” Shafik said in her
email.

“I regret that all of these attempts to resolve the situation were rejected by
the students involved.”

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ANTISEMITISM CONTROVERSY AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY:

* Columbia University president Minouche Shafik was accused of “gross
negligence” while testifying before the House Education and Workforce
Committee about antisemitic incidents at the school and pro-Palestinian
indoctrination. Shafik defended the school’s response after Oct. 7, but
refused to tell lawmakers at the hearing if the phrase “From the river to the
sea, Palestine will be free” is antisemitic.
* A report from the Ivy League school’s Task Force on Antisemitism found
“repeated violations by student groups” at Columbia after the Oct. 7 Hamas
terror attacks in Israel.
* Ahead of the hearing, Jewish students told The Post that they have been
targeted and witnessed antisemitism at the Morningside Heights campus. The
Columbia University Jewish Alumni Association told The Post that the
college’s administrators must “do their job” in reining in unauthorized
student protests.
* Shortly after the Oct. 7 attacks, more than 100 Columbia professors signed a
letter defending students who support the “military action” by Hamas.
* In February, an antisemitic poster depicting Israel as a skunk appeared on
campus — which experts liken to a propaganda poster used by the Nazis in
World War II.
* An unsanctioned “Resistance 101” event was held on campus in March by a
Palestinian activist with alleged ties to a group labeled a terror
organization by the US. Four students who participated were later suspended
by Columbia.

19
Columbia University president Minouche Shafik testifying at a House Committee on
Education and the Workforce hearing on April 17, 2024. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
* While the congressional hearing was in progress, Columbia students erected 60
tents on campus to demand that the university divest from Israel. One of the
leaders of the protests, Ilhan Omar’s daughter, Isra Hirsi, was suspended
from Barnard College — a women’s college affiliated with Columbia.
* Shocking video footage captured a protester near the university declare,
“We’re all Hamas” and “Long live Hamas” Wednesday. Another protester was
arrested Wednesday night for repeatedly hitting and scratching an NYPD cop,
according to law enforcement officials.
* On Thursday, dozens of other protesters were arrested after Shafik announced
the campus’ closure.

It comes after Shafik had sent a letter to the NYPD’s deputy commissioner of
legal matters Wednesday asking cops to step in because students were now
“trespassing” on school property in the wake of their suspensions.

19
Protesters fill the Columbia University grounds. Robert Miller
19
Parts of the encampment are removed by officials. Robert Miller
19
NYPD cops and protesters face off. Robert Miller

19
At least 100 protesters were arrested by the NYPD. Jonah Elkowitz / NY Post
19
Multiple individuals detained by NYPD officers at Columbia University. Matthew
McDermott
19
Pro-Palestine protesters gather as the NYPD load buses with arrested Columbia
University students. Matthew McDermott

19
Pro-Palestine Protesters in handcuffs being lead onto NYPD load buses. Matthew
McDermott
19
A Pro-Palestine protester wearing a face mask in handcuffs being led onto a NYPD
bus. Matthew McDermott
19
NYPD arresting students on the campus of Columbia University campus overviewed
on Thursday afternoon April 18, 2024. Matt McDermott for NY Post

“With great regret, we request the NYPD’s help to remove these individuals. We
understand that the first step in this process will be for NYPD to use its LRAD
technology to inform the participants in the encampment that they must disperse
and give them time to leave prior to taking any additional action,” her letter
stated.

“We trust that you will take care and caution when removing any individual from
our campus. The safety and security of our community is our highest priority. We
appreciate your commitment to assist us in a peaceful and respectful manner at
this difficult time.”

What do you think? Post a comment.

In his own memo, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Michael Gerber wrote that the
authorities were authorized to break up the protest at Shafik’s behest.

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