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.
#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
β Oliya Scootercaster π΄ (@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.
β Oliya Scootercaster π΄ (@ScooterCasterNY) April 30, 2024
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
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 β 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.
β Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 30, 2024
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
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.
β Oliya Scootercaster π΄ (@ScooterCasterNY) May 1, 2024
Video by Kevin RC Wilson [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/YmyRzaaqWY
And Columbia has sent out a warning to students to avoid the area:
It reads: βShelter 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.β
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 NYPDβs counterterrorism bureau, described the takeover as βfar beyond first amendment protected speech and peaceful protest.β
βWe are urging people to take this opportunity to leave Hamilton Hall,β she said.
Mayor Eric Adams (D) was more direct: βThis must end now.β
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
β NBC News (@NBCNews) May 1, 2024
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
β Oliya Scootercaster π΄ (@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.
β Oliya Scootercaster π΄ (@ScooterCasterNY) May 1, 2024
Video by @yyeeaahhhboiii2 [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/7w3COwAKKu
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
β Oliya Scootercaster π΄ (@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
β Oliya Scootercaster π΄ (@ScooterCasterNY) May 1, 2024
Video by Olga Fe [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/YnS6v4V00p
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.
β Ali Bauman (@AliBaumanTV) May 1, 2024
Update: Forcing police to carry them out. What a bunch of jerks.
π¨ππ₯πππππ‘π - The NYPD have begun arresting protestors and agitators at Columbia University.
β Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) May 1, 2024
Tactical units have also entered to clear out portions of the campus that have been barricaded. pic.twitter.com/JJb6Q6iM2m
Flash bangs were used inside the building. So far, at least 48 people have been arrested.
According to police, flash bangs were used to disorient the protesters as officers made their way inside. They say no tear gas was used...
According to police, about 48 people have been taken into custody at this time. At least two New York City Department of Correction buses full of protesters were seen being driven away from the school.
Police released this vide of them going through the building, clearing blockades of furniture and checking rooms..
#HAPPENINGNOW: @Columbia has requested our assistance to take back their campus, which has seen disturbing acts of violence, forms of intimidation & destruction of property. @NYPDnews is dispersing the unlawful encampment and persons barricaded inside of university buildings⦠pic.twitter.com/gQUzXDUlFe
β NYPD Deputy Commissioner, Operations Kaz Daughtry (@NYPDDaughtry) May 1, 2024
Predictably, the student group is now whining that the police were mean to them. They have already grabbed this clip and claim this person was thrown down the stairs and knocked out. No explanation of the person flat on their back who suddenly hopped up and started wrestling with police.
VIDEO OF THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT WHO WAS PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS, BECAME UNCONSCIOUS, AND WAS DENIED ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE. https://t.co/hjZnpeOaHQ
β Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (@ColumbiaSJP) May 1, 2024
They know who is to blame: Joe Biden.
Whatever happens at Columbia and to students protesting across America can be directly linked to Joe Bidenβs White House repeatedly lying and smearing these students.
β Mohammad Alsaafin (@malsaafin) May 1, 2024
This will restore order to the campus if Columbia follows through on expelling everyone who was arrested tonight. Ban them from campus and don't let them back in until after graduation. On top of that, they should face charges of trespassing, vandalism, etc. If there are no consequences, they will go right back to this again tomorrow.
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