College protests updates: NYPD says Hamilton Hall, encampment cleared at Columbia
Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza.
Many pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on the campuses have called the protests antisemitic and said they are scared for their safety.
The student protests — some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments — have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University in New York City. Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California and more have launched protests.
Latest Developments
May 1, 2:38 AM
Police confront CUNY protesters, arrest 25, university says
At least 25 people were arrested at CUNY’s City College of New York campus as police confronted protesters early Wednesday, the university said in a statement.
Pro-Palestinian supporters climb a fence during demonstrations at The City College Of New York as the NYPD cracks down on protest camps at both Columbia University and CCNY on April 30, 2024, in New York City.
University officials said they asked the New York Police Department for assistance in clearing protesters, including a “large crowd” of people who had marched from Columbia University to City College.
The school described a “series of violent indents” that it said put public safety at risk over the last six days.
“This includes a fire Sunday night at the Marshak Science Building caused by use of a flare gun that brought FDNY to campus, clashes with public safety, an attempted break-in at Shepard Hall tonight, and a break-in at the Administration Building tonight that included the vandalizing of offices and smashing glass doors,” the university said in a press release early Wednesday.
Police entered the campus just before midnight and began making arrests, the university said.
Pro-Palestinian supporters confront police during demonstrations at The City College Of New York as the NYPD cracks down on protest camps at both Columbia University and CCNY on April 30, 2024 in New York City.
“Students have a right to demonstrate peacefully and exercise their First Amendment rights,” the university said. “Tonight’s actions were taken in response to specific and repeated acts of violence and vandalism, not in response to peaceful protest”
-ABC News’ Jessica Gorman and Kevin Shalvey
May 1, 12:55 AM
Columbia restricts Morningside campus to on-campus student residents, certain employees
After Columbia University was cleared of encamped protesters Tuesday night, the school said it its Morningside campus was immediately restricted to students who live there and workers providing essential services.
“Effective immediately, access to the Morningside campus has been limited to students residing in residential buildings on campus (Carman, Furnald, John Jay, Hartley, Wallach, East Campus and Wien) and employees who provide essential services to campus buildings, labs and residential student life (for example, Dining, Public Safety, and building maintenance staff). There is no additional access to the Morningside campus,” the notification read.
The university said the restrictions would stay in place “until circumstances allow otherwise.”
-ABC News’ Victoria Arancio
May 1, 12:46 AM
NYPD officers move on to City College of New York campus
NYPD officers entered the campus of the City College of New York late Tuesday night.
“As requested by the university, we are currently on campus to assist the university in dispersing those trespassing,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Kaz Daughtry, said in a post on X, sharing video of the police moving in.
In a note to the campus community, university president Vince Boudreau, said protests on campus presented “heightened challenges.”
“Most importantly, this is not primarily a CCNY demonstration, and perhaps not primarily a CUNY demonstration. The significant inclusion of un-affiliated external individuals means that we don’t have established connections to them,” Boudreau’s letter read.
He continued: “Specifically, this demonstration has been more contentious and violent than anything we’ve seen on campus before. Today, we distributed a letter to members of the encampment detailing specific examples of threats to the safety of people within and outside the encampment, so that all of them understand the full scope of the activity. We also want all of them, and those of you reading this note, to understand that in no way does our response to this particular and extraordinary threat overwrite our more fundamental commitments to free speech, academic freedom, or the right to peacefully protest that comply with CCNY and CUNY regulations.”
Boudreau said the encamped demonstrators were told to take down their encampment and follow CUNY guidelines for “future activities.”
The university president also said classes would be remote on Wednesday due to the situation on campus.
-ABC News’ Jolie Lash and Victoria Arancio
May 1, 12:16 AM
Columbia details backstory on Hamilton Hall takeover
In a letter authorizing the NYPD to enter the Columbia University campus and break up the protest, the school detailed the backstory on its recent talks with those in the encampments and the takeover Tuesday night of Hamilton Hall.
According to the letter, from Columbia President Minouche Shafik, an individual “hid in the building” at Hamilton Hall until it was closed and let others in. The group’s purpose was “occupying the building,” the letter read.
A Pro-Palestinian protestor who is occupying Hamilton Hall looks out into a crowd at Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Two security guards were inside the building at the time, and the university said in the letter to the NYPD they were able to “secure their release.”
“We believe that while the group who broke into the building includes students, it is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University,” the letter read. “The individuals who have occupied Hamilton Hall have vandalized University property and are trespassing.”
Addressing the encampment on the school’s Morningside campus, the university told police discussions had been carried out with group representatives, but on Sunday, they “reached an impasse.”
At that time, the university says it told the group they did not have permission to “occupy spaces on campus” and were “in violation” of school rules and policies.
On Monday morning, the protesters were told they would be suspended if they didn’t disperse by Monday at 2 p.m. ET.
The university said in its Tuesday night NYPD letter that those in the encampment were “suspended” and “not authorized to be on University property and are trespassing.”
The university said it believed the actions of those in the protest were escalating. “These activities have become a magnet for protesters outside our gates which creates significant risk to our campus and disrupts the ability of the University to continue normal operations,” the letter read.
Columbia’s president concluded the letter by asking the NYPD to “help to clear all individuals from Hamilton Hall and all campus encampments.”
She further asked police to have a campus presence through May 17 — graduation is May 15 — “to maintain order and ensure encampments are not reestablished.”
Student protestors are arrested by police and removed from the campus of Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Police moved onto the Columbia University campus a little before 9 p.m. ET and began making arrests.
The NYPD also used a vehicle with an extendable roof ramp to help officers breach Hamilton Hall from an upper floor. From there, the police cleared the building.
The campus encampment and hall were cleared before 11:30 p.m.
-ABC News’ Jolie Lash, Aaron Katersky and Joshua Hoyos
Apr 30, 11:24 PM
NYPD says Hamilton Hall, encampment cleared at Columbia
NYPD officers arrest students as they evict a building that had been barricaded by pro-Palestinian student protesters at Columbia University, in New York City on April 30, 2024. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
The NYPD said Tuesday night that Hamilton Hall and the encampment have been cleared.
In a short media briefing, the NYPD said the only thing that remains are the tents at the encampment, which the university will clear.
No injuries have been reported, the NYPD said.
An official also said no tear gas was deployed Tuesday night.
-ABC News’ Joshua Hoyos
Apr 30, 11:20 PM
Nearly 50 arrests so far at Columbia: Police sources
NYPD 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 on April 30, 2024. (Photo by LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images)
There have been about four dozen arrests so far by the NYPD at Columbia University, according to police sources.
The first bus of protesters apprehended by police just left the campus area.
-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky
Apr 30, 10:18 PM
Police head toward encampments after clearing a fortified Hamilton Hall
Police officers were met with a heavily fortified building when they entered Hamilton Hall on Tuesday night, sources told ABC News.
There have been a number of arrests, however no specific number was immediately available.
With the situation at Hamilton Hall believed to be contained, a number of officers are making their way from building to tent encampments.
-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky
Apr 30, 10:08 PM
Columbia asks NYPD to ‘retain a presence’ through May 17
Columbia University has asked the NYPD to “retain a presence on campus through at least May 17.”
The request came in the letter the university sent to the NYPD Tuesday night, allowing them to move onto campus grounds.
-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky and Joshua Hoyos
Apr 30, 9:55 PM
Columbia on authorizing NYPD to go on campus: ‘We were left with no choice’
Columbia University has released a statement addressing its authorization to allow the NYPD on campus, saying the decision was “made to restore safety and order to our community.”
In its statement, the university said after they learned protesters had entered Hamilton Hall last night and “occupied, vandalized, and blockaded” it, they were left with “no choice” but to allow the police in. The university also said in a statement that they believe “that the group that broke into and occupied the building is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University.”
“Columbia public safety personnel were forced out of the building, and a member of our facilities team was threatened. We will not risk the safety of our community or the potential for further escalation,” the university’s statement continued.
The university said in its statement the NYPD’s presence is about the “actions of the protestors, 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,” the statement read.
-ABC News’ Joshua Hoyos
Apr 30, 9:46 PM
NYPD expected to charge Hamilton Hall protesters with burglary, criminal mischief
Ahead of the move into Columbia University Tuesday evening, NYPD officials detailed what charges arrested protestors will face.
“For the individuals that are inside of Hamilton Hall they will be charged with burglary in a third degree, criminal mischief, and trespassing. For the individuals that are in the encampments outside they will be charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct,” NYPD officials said.
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