New York City Police Officers Move In on Columbia University, Begin Arrests

A large number of New York City police officers have moved onto the Columbia University campus and started making arrests. The NYPD went in after receiving authorization from the school to send police onto campus Tuesday night.

Live pictures showed officers climbing a ladder and entering the building through a second-floor window of Hamilton Hall. Most of them wore helmets and had heavy-duty bolt cutters and cuffs.

This development comes moments after a shelter-in-place order was issued to students as police activity around campus grew more intense.

The message asked them to "shelter in place for your safety due to heightened activity on the Morningside campus." The message warned that "non-compliance may result in disciplinary action."

Dozens of pro-Palestinian student protesters have occupied Hamilton Hall at the university, barricading entrances and unfurling a Palestinian flag.

The occupation of Hamilton Hall, which has a history of student takeovers dating back to the 1968 protests against the Vietnam War, is part of a larger wave of demonstrations against Israel's military actions in Gaza that have spread to campuses. Similar protests have occurred at universities across the U.S., with over 1,000 protesters arrested in the past two weeks.

Columbia University has ordered the protesters to leave the building and threatened to expel students who continue to occupy it. The university has also moved classes online and restricted access to the campus.

Why this matters: The Columbia protests and other campuses across the U.S. highlight the growing tensions and polarization surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict. The demonstrations have forced universities to grapple with their financial ties to Israel and their commitment to free speech, while also raising concerns about antisemitism and the safety of Jewish students on campus.

The White House and New York City Mayor Eric Adams have condemned the forcible takeover of university buildings, with Adams claiming the protests have been co-opted by "professional outside agitators." However, protest organizers and participants reject this characterization, arguing that the movement is aimed at defending Palestinian rights and protesting Israel's actions in Gaza. As the standoff continues, it remains unclear how the university will resolve the situation and address the protesters' demands.

Key Takeaways

• New York City police officers move onto the Columbia University
• Live pictures showed officers climbing a ladder and entering the building
• Protests against Israel's actions in Gaza have spread to campuses nationwide, with over 1,000 arrests.
• Columbia University had ordered protesters to leave, threatened expulsion, and restricted campus access.
• Protests highlight tensions over Israel-Palestine conflict, raising concerns about antisemitism on campus.