1 month ago
Supporters of Palestinians, Israel conflict extracurricular Columbia University's field gross
NEW YORK -- Police arrested protesters astatine Columbia University Thursday arsenic pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators faced off.
Police started making arrests Thursday day astatine a makeshift encampment that pro-Palestinian protesters had group up connected Columbia's South Lawn.
As arrests were being made, immoderate protesters could beryllium heard chanting "NYPD KKK."
In a letter, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik asked nan NYPD to move in, penning "I person wished that nan encampment and related disruptions airs a clear and coming threat to nan important functioning of nan University."
"With awesome regret, we petition nan NYPD's thief to region these individuals," she wrote.
Shafik said each assemblage students participating successful nan encampment are being suspended.
"I regret that each of these attempts to resoluteness nan business were rejected by nan students involved. As a result, NYPD officers are now connected field and nan process of clearing nan encampment is underway," Shafik wrote successful a connection to nan Columbia community.
The NYPD brought successful buses to clasp those who were detained. Demonstrations were taking spot some connected and disconnected campus.
"Columbia is committed to allowing members of our organization to prosecute successful governmental look – wrong established rules and pinch respect for nan information of all," Shafik wrote.
The dueling demonstrations started connected Wednesday, but were ratcheted up connected Thursday. The first arrests started conscionable aft 8 a.m., arsenic mini pro-Palestinian demonstrations were taking spot extracurricular Columbia's field gates. Some demonstrators expressed discontent pinch really they opportunity nan NYPD handled nan situation.
"There was nary constituent of ever moving pinch nan police. Like each azygous measurement of nan way, they were escalating it," a protester named Selena said.
A protester is taken into custody during dueling demonstrations betwixt pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel supporters extracurricular of Columbia University successful Manhattan connected April 18, 2024
CBS2
It wasn't instantly clear really galore arrests were made. According to protesters, constabulary started detaining them Thursday greeting for blocking nan entranceway to nan subway, which they opportunity was not nan case.
"Not allowing america to workout immoderate of our rights," Selena said.
Protests proceed aft Columbia's president testifies
Demonstrations began erstwhile Shafik testified Wednesday connected Capitol Hill, where she was accused of failing to subject students for antisemitic rhetoric. Demonstrators astatine nan Morningside Heights field reacted to her testimony.
"Columbia has shown complete and complete they don't attraction astir students' rights, voices aliases safety," said Aidan Parisi, a pro-Palestinian protester.
"I'm frightened to deterioration a Jewish prima here. I've gotten very nasty antisemitic comments astatine maine and I don't understand really this is accepted," Kim Silverman said.
The immense mostly of Thursday morning's protesters were not Columbia students.
- In:
- Manhattan
- Israel
- NYPD
- Columbia University
- Morningside Heights
- Palestinians
- Antisemitism
Doug Williams
Doug Williams has been reporting and anchoring successful nan Tri-State Area since 2013.
