Dozens detained during pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University

More than 100 students were arrested Thursday, April 18, at Columbia University during a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus’ main lawn. The arrests occurred as New York City police, in riot gear, dismantled a makeshift tent city that had been set up by the protesters without school permission after a second day of protest.

University President Minouche Shafik requested NYPD assistance to remove protesters from campus.

“I have determined that the encampment and related disruptions pose a clear and present danger to the substantial functioning of the University,” Shafik wrote. “With great regret, we request the NYPD’s help to remove these individuals. We understand that the first step in this process will be for NYPD to use its Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) technology to inform the participants in the encampment that they must disperse and give them time to leave prior to taking any additional action.”

Students were held in buses before being taken to the police precinct.

“New Yorkers have every right to express their sorrow, but that heartbreak does not give you the right to harass others, to spread hate,” Mayor Eric Adams, D, said. 

In a statement to the Columbia community, Shafik announced the suspension of all students participating in the protest, expressing regret over their refusal to resolve the situation peacefully.

“This morning, I had to make a decision that I hoped would never be necessary,” Shafik wrote. “I have always said that the safety of our community was my top priority and that we needed to preserve an environment where everyone could learn in a supportive context.”

i’m an organizer with CU Apartheid Divest @ColumbiaSJP, in my 3 years at @BarnardCollege i have never been reprimanded or received any disciplinary warnings

i just received notice that i am 1 of 3 students suspended for standing in solidarity with Palestinians facing a genocide.

— isra hirsi (@israhirsi) April 18, 2024

Barnard College suspended three students, including Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, D, for their involvement in the ongoing protest.

The protests started on Wednesday, April 17, while Shafik testified on Capitol Hill, where she was accused of failing to respond to antisemitism on campus.