JUST IN: NYPD Begins To Stage Outside Columbia University
Members of the New York City Police Department appear ready to clear pro-Palestine protesters from Columbia University after the protests devolved into a riot last night.
Footage from FreedomNews.tv shows large numbers of NYPD officers in riot gear staging outside the university campus. A number of officers could be seen carrying zip-tie handcuffs, which is generally an indicator of imminent mass arrests.
Protesters had been ordered to disperse by 2:30 p.m. on Monday, though this did not happen. Instead, the situation escalated dramatically when protesters stormed Hamilton Hall and proceeded to occupy the building. Rioters could be seen smashing out windows and using bike racks to barricade the building, which they renamed to “Hind’s Hall.”
Protesters have since occupied and vandalized a number of additional buildings throughout the campus.
#NOW Massive ammount of SRG and other NYPD units outside of Columbia University, possible raid imminent on the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” inside.
Video by Kevin RC Wilson [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/YmyRzaaqWY
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 1, 2024
#BREAKING HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE with cops with bats and helmets outside of Columbia University. Streets around it are now FROZEN ZONES. Speculation that raid is imminent. pic.twitter.com/zsGnUHWeO9
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 30, 2024
Columbia University has thus far refused to allow the NYPD to access the campus and has refused to press charges against a number of protesters. According to a report from CNN, officers are still awaiting permission to enter the building from Columbia officials as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry has previously stated that a number of “outside agitators” are attempting to enter encampments and escalate the situation. “What may have started as a group of Columbia students wanting to express their constitutional right to protest has drawn crowds of outside agitators who are trying to hijack a peaceful protest and turn it something far more sinister,” Daughtry wrote in an X post.
Elsewhere in New York City on Tuesday, police clashed with protesters outside additional university encampments. At the City College of New York, protesters could be seen pushing against police while chanting “from the walls to the gate, it is time to escalate.”
At CUNY, the situation appeared to be escalating to a riot as demonstrators could be seen throwing objects at police and attempting to gain access to buildings.
#BREAKING Protesters announce “From the walls to the gate, IT IS TIME TO ESCALATE! Here at City College of New York” as they rush the police line outside CUNY Encampment.
Video by Kevin RC Wilson [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/TnSkiS5SsX
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 30, 2024
NOW: The situation outside of CCNY escalated rapidly after protesters tried to push through the fences blocking off access to the encampment, prompting an NYPD officer to pull out his baton pic.twitter.com/kAP1rWVfX6
— katie smith (@probablyreadit) April 30, 2024
BREAKING: An Altercation at CUNY led to pepper spray being deployed.
“Beat the Cop!” pic.twitter.com/PXRowD5wzE
— Stu (@thestustustudio) May 1, 2024