New York police entered the Columbia University campus and reached "Hamilton Hall," where pro-Palestinian students have been barricaded since Monday night, protesting the Israeli war on Gaza. Police officers arrived on Wednesday at the vicinity of "Hamilton Hall," located within Columbia University's campus in downtown New York. They began pushing protesters outside before a truck approached the building and officers climbed a ladder to enter Hamilton Hall through one of its windows.
While inside the building, a student reported being blocked by police, stating, "they won't let me out despite showing many of them my NYPD press pass," as more individuals were led away in zip ties for blocking "Hinds Hall." It was reported that police arrested dozens of students and took control of the building where the protesters had fortified, as local media conveyed. Live television footage showed police officers in helmets entering the Manhattan campus, which has been the focal point of student protests that have spread to dozens of universities across the United States in recent days.
Additionally, dozens of other police officers gathered at the nearby protest camp while students outside the campus chanted, "Shame, shame!" In response, the university administration expressed regret that "the protesters chose to escalate the situation through their actions." They stated in a release that they had no choice after learning students had occupied and vandalized "Hamilton Hall." A university spokesperson clarified that the Board of Trustees met throughout the night into early morning to consult with security experts and law enforcement to determine the best plan to protect students and the entire Columbia community. Meanwhile, University President Nemat Shafik requested that the New York police remain on campus until May 17.
