Dozens of New York police officers entered the campus of Columbia University on Wednesday, a day after pro-Palestinian student demonstrators barricaded and occupied a building on campus.
Here are 10 points about American college protests
Police officers, in tactical gear and helmets, marched onto campus and climbed from a truck to the second floor of Hamilton Hall. On Tuesday, protesters occupied Hamilton Hall and unfurled a banner reading “Hind's Hall” to pay tribute to a six-year-old Palestinian child killed by the Israeli army.
Officers have begun evacuating the occupied building and have arrested several protesters. According to the Reuters news agency, more than fifty demonstrators have been arrested so far.
The move comes after dozens of college campuses across the US saw large-scale protests against Israel's war in Gaza. The demonstrations have also led to arrests of students who vowed to continue their protest despite the threat of expulsion from the university administration.
Hours before police entered the campus, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the takeover of Hamilton Hall was instigated by “outside agitators” who “turned peaceful protests into a violent spectacle.” “We cannot wait for this situation to become even more serious. This must end now,” he said.
In a letter, Minouche Shafik, president of Columbia University, requested assistance from the New York Police Department to remove all individuals from Hamilton Hall and all campus camps. She also asked police to remain on campus until May 17, “to ensure that the camps are not reestablished.”
The White House had criticized the storming of Hamilton Hall, calling it “the wrong approach.” “We certainly respect the right to peaceful protests. We absolutely condemn the anti-Semitist language we have heard recently and certainly condemn any hate speech and threats of violence that are out there,” said John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council.
Talks between the protesting students and the university administration collapsed after Columbia University rejected their demand that the elite school divest all financial interests linked to Israel.
The university also claims that several Jewish students fled campus due to the protesters' “anti-Semitic actions.” However, protest organizers have denied accusations of anti-Semitism, arguing that their protest is against the actions of the Israeli government.
“Disruptions on campus have created a threatening environment for many of our Jewish students and faculty and a noisy distraction that hinders teaching, learning and preparation for final exams,” the university said in a statement.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk has also expressed concern about the use of police to disperse protests on campus. “Freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly are fundamental to society. “Incitement to violence or hatred based on identity or views – real or perceived – must be strongly rejected,” he said.
The devastating war in Gaza began after Hamas operatives launched an attack on Israel on October 7, killing around 1,170 people. In retaliation, Israel killed at least 34,535 people in Gaza, mostly women and children.
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