On Wednesday, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters who had occupied Hamilton Hall administration building at Columbia University were arrested during a police operation. According to reports, the police operation involved hundreds of officers who entered the building early Finnish time to evacuate it. This followed protests against Israel’s attacks on Gaza that had spread to university campuses across the United States, with Columbia being the starting point.
Before the police operation, Columbia University had released a statement alleging that the protesters had taken over, destroyed and blocked access to Hamilton Hall. The protesters had broken windows, security cameras and covered the windows with newspapers to block visibility. During the operation, the protesters continued to shout pro-Palestinian slogans as they were arrested and taken away in buses.
The city’s mayor and police officials claimed that the takeover was initiated by “outside instigators” who were not Columbia University students but were known to the police. The university had asked the police to remain on campus to maintain order following
