Because the occupiers missed an ultimatum, police stormed the historic Hamilton Hall at Columbia University in New York on Tuesday evening (local time). According to American media, there were at least 50 arrests.
Hundreds of police were deployed and also searched the tents of the protest camp on the university campus. The demonstrators criticize Israel’s actions in the Gaza war and demand solidarity with the Palestinians. They also demand that the university cut financial ties with Israel. But the university board rejects this.
At a news conference the night before police arrived, Mayor Eric Adams and law enforcement officials said the occupation of Hamilton Hall was incited by “outside agitators” who had no ties to Columbia and were known to law enforcement. The police based their conclusions partly on the escalating behavior of the occupier, including vandalism, erecting barricades and destroying security cameras.
Dispute over “external actors”
Adams suggested that some protesting students were not fully aware of the “external actors” in their midst. One of the leaders of the protests, Palestinian student Mahmoud Khalil, denied that outsiders had initiated the occupation. “They are students,” he told Reuters.
This is the second major police operation on campus: almost two weeks ago, the New York police had already taken action against the students at the request of the university management. They criticized the approach as disproportionate, and as a result there were solidarity demonstrations at dozens of other universities in the US.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
