I started posting this here but I’m not sure anyone saw it. It’s looking like there might be some more arrests made tonight at Columbia. Video shows police have gathered outside the campus.
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#BREAKING HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE with cops with bats and helmets outside of Columbia University. Streets around it are now FROZEN ZONES. Speculation that raid is imminent. pic.twitter.com/zsGnUHWeO9
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 30, 2024
Police have also reportedly announced the charges that students inside and outside the building will face.
#NEW NYPD announced the charged that Protesters will face at Columbia Encampment and occupation.
For those inside stormed Hamilton Hall – Burglary in the 3rd degree, criminal mischief and trespassing.
For protesters in the encampment outide – trespassing and disorderly conduct pic.twitter.com/sxYU7fq7AI
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 30, 2024
Access to the campus has been cut off: Students are now gathering outside the occupied building.
Students wearing keffiyehs are beginning to gather outside Hamilton Hall. One is wearing goggles — perhaps in anticipation of tear gas.
Gov. Kathy Hochul put out a video about an hour ago (as I write this) talking about the protests at Columbia. She seems to be on board with taking action to end this so that graduation can proceed as intended. Honestly, this would have been more helpful if she said this last week when things began escalating.
My number one priority is the safety of New Yorkers.
We have been in close contact with colleges & universities across the state. They must ensure all campuses are safe & graduates can celebrate commencements in the coming weeks. We have offered to support efforts as needed. pic.twitter.com/bUVlI57rmN
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 30, 2024
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Another video of police gathering outside the campus. As always, there is nothing that leftists love more than shouting at the police.
#NOW Massive ammount of SRG and other NYPD units outside of Columbia University, possible raid imminent on the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” inside.
Video by Kevin RC Wilson [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/YmyRzaaqWY
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 1, 2024
And Columbia has sent out a warning to students to avoid the area:
It reads: “Shelter in place for your safety due to heightened activity on the Morningside campus. Non-compliance may result in disciplinary action. Avoid the area until further notice.”
There is another police action taking place at CUNY right now. Protesters there are being arrested. I’m not going to post video of that here because it will confuse things, but it’s happening.
It’s not clear if this imminent police raid was requested by Columbia President Shafik or if this is being driven by Mayor Adams who made a point of saying just a couple hours ago that the building takeovers needed to end.
Rebecca Weiner, deputy commissioner for the NYPD’s counterterrorism bureau, described the takeover as “far beyond first amendment protected speech and peaceful protest.”
“We are urging people to take this opportunity to leave Hamilton Hall,” she said.
Mayor Eric Adams (D) was more direct: “This must end now.”
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That’s pretty much everything that has happened up to the moment I’m writing this. I’ll keep an eye on it and update this post as things develop.
Update (Ed): John may update this post in more detail later, but since I’m around, I’ll add this major update. Columbia finally and formally asked the NYPD to bring an end to this situation, and they arrived in force:
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.
Hundreds of police officers entered Columbia, and they mean business:
Several NYPD officers enter Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall through a window less than a day after pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the building. https://t.co/8eNu22pce7 pic.twitter.com/fMgiB4UqJN
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 1, 2024
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Let’s see how far they’re willing to go. Protesters outside the building are refusing to disperse and are linking arms to defy orders to do so, which means we can expect a lot of pepper spray and other non-lethal compliance strategies deployed in the next couple of hours. We may not get a good look at the success of this mission until tomorrow morning.
Update: It’s happening.
#BREAKING Police MOVE IN TO COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, Raid has begun. pic.twitter.com/SCWZOPDuw5
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 1, 2024
#NOW NYPD Drove BEARCAT into Columbia University, accessing occupied building through a window. Hundreds of cops continue to pour into the University.
Video by @yyeeaahhhboiii2 [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/7w3COwAKKu
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 1, 2024
That is a lot of police officers.
#BREAKING Police continue to enter Columbia University Hamilton Hall, clearing the building and making arrests. pic.twitter.com/Qej7ZohOBR
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 1, 2024
The arrests begin. Lots of shrieking. There’s a guy rolling down the steps and another guy laying on the ground like he’s hurt. But then he hops up. By the end of this clip it looks like police have control of the door and are entering the building.
#BREAKING MASS ARRESTS as NYPD pour hundreds of cops inside Columbia University, Raiding Encampment
Video by Olga Fe [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/YnS6v4V00p
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 1, 2024
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I don’t know what to make of this.
BREAKING: New York City Hall sources tell @CBSNewYork evidence that the wife of a known terrorist is with protestors on Columbia University campus.
— Ali Bauman (@AliBaumanTV) May 1, 2024
Update: Forcing police to carry them out. What a bunch of jerks.
🚨𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 – The NYPD have begun arresting protestors and agitators at Columbia University.
Tactical units have also entered to clear out portions of the campus that have been barricaded. pic.twitter.com/JJb6Q6iM2m
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) May 1, 2024
