New York City police officials entered Columbia University later on Tuesday and arrested hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters as pro-Palestine, anti-war protests have gaining traction across US universities.
Over the previous two weeks, more than 1, 000 protestors have been arrested on schools in Texas, Utah, Virginia, North Carolina, New Mexico, Connecticut, Louisiana, California, and New Jersey, some following conflicts with mob officers.
The authorities at Columbia University have requested that they remain on the college until May 17.
The White House had condemned the skirmishes at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt and Columbia State Polytechnic University, where protesters stormed two houses before police with truncheons came in immediately and made 25 arrests. The school in northern California was expected to suffer more than$ 1 million in total damage, according to officials.
Next week, pro- Arab student demonstrators set up a tent camp at New York’s Ivy League universities. Officers attempted to remove the camp on April 18, arresting over 100 protesters. However, the method backfired, energizing individuals around the nation and prompting protesters at Columbia to recover.
Conflicts break out at California University
Numerous protest and counter-protestors scuffled at California University while police stormed Columbia University to remove pro-Palestine protest and set up clashes with sticks and metal barricades.
On X, the Los Angeles police department stated,” We can verify that Police officers have been deployed and are already on the UCLA campus to help with restoring order. We are collaborating with the PD of UCLA and various law enforcement organizations.
Columbia’s house cleared of activists, police asked to stay till May 17
Later on Tuesday, New York City police detained pro-Palestine activists as they entered Columbia University. The law enforcement action was taken in response to a protracted activity by individuals who had occupied Hamilton Hall and set up a tent camp for almost two weeks.
Mayor Eric Adams earlier in the day called the police to say that the continuous opposition “must close now.”
With the” with the utmost lament,” Columbia President Minouche Shafik wrote a letter to older NYPD officials in which he urged them to eliminate protesters from the occupied tower and a nearby tent camp. She also requested that officers remain on school until May 17, which is after the school’s initiation festivities.
‘ No an example of peaceful protest ‘: Whitehouse condemns violent demonstrations
Whitehouse criticized the skirmishes at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt and Columbia University, calling it “absolutely the bad approach,” in which 25 people were taken hostage before officers with batons came in over and made arrests.
The school in northern California would be causing more than$ 1 million in total damage, according to officials.
‘ Free, completely Palestine!’
The student activists are urging Columbia University and different organizations to withdraw from businesses involved in the Jewish military’s operations in Gaza by chanting” sorrow on you” and “free, free Palestine!”.
In response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which Hamas attacks on southern Israel, their profession and demonstrations are a part of a wider movement to rally what they perceive as injustices in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
