In unprecedented scenes, New York City Police entered the grounds of Columbia University on Tuesday night carrying zip ties and riot shields to clear the premises of pro-Palestinian protesters who took over Hamilton Hall and have made an encampment at the Ivy League school for nearly two weeks. Here’s what happened next
New York Police Department officers arrest students as they evict a building that had been barricaded by pro-Palestinian student protesters at Columbia University, in New York City. AFP
A large number of police officials descended on Hamilton Hall at Columbia University on Tuesday (30 April) night, evicting protesters who had occupied the building and taking many into custody.
For the past two weeks, Columbia University’s campus in Manhattan has been a protest site with students setting up a pro-Palestinian encampment and calling for the university’s administration to divest its support for Israel.
The situation intensified on Monday (29 April) when students ignored a call from the authorities to clear the encampment. In return, Columbia University began to
suspend
students. Angry students retaliated by seized the administration building, known as Hamilton Hall and even renaming it as Hind Hall, after
Hind Rajab
, a six-year-old girl from Gaza, became an enduring symbol of the horrors of the Palestine-Israel conflict
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
NYPD officers stand next to barricaded protesters inside Hamilton Hall at Columbia University. AFP
Carrying zip ties and riot shields, NYPD officers stormed the University building and then arresting dozens of student protesters and demonstrators.
The NYPD use a special vehicle to enter Hamilton Hall which protesters occupied, as other officers enter the campus of Columbia University. ReutersPolice officers could be heard saying “We are clearing it out” as they marched up to the barricaded entrance of Hamilton Hall. Reuters
Columbia University officials said that they called in the authorities after the university requested help. “After the University learned overnight that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalised, and blockaded, we were left with no choice,” the school said. “The decision to reach out to the NYPD was in response to the actions of the protesters, not the cause they are championing. We have made it clear that the life of campus cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules and the law.”
Police stand guard near the encampment of protesters supporting Palestinians on the grounds of Columbia University. Reuters
Columbia’s police action happened on the 56th anniversary of a similar move to quash an occupation of Hamilton Hall by students protesting racism and the Vietnam War. ReutersPolice detain a protestor, as other police officers enter the campus of Columbia University, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, in New York City. ReutersLess than three hours after police entered Columbia, the campus has been cleared of protesters. A police spokesperson said “dozens” of arrests had been made. Local media is reporting police as saying both Hamilton Hall and the protest encampment is now entirely cleared of students. AFPNYPD officers transport arrested students in a bus as they evict a building that had been barricaded by pro-Palestinian student protesters at Columbia University, in New York City. Protesters cheered as buses filled with them drove by. They chanted “Shame on you” and “Quit your job” to police. AFP
 "New York Police Department officers arrest students as they evict a building that had been barricaded by pro-Palestinian student protesters at Columbia University, in New York City. AFP")