On Thursday, April 18, NYPD officers in riot gear apprehended and arrested more than 100 anti-Israel protestors from Columbia University. This action followed the college president’s decision to disband a large anti-Israel protest encampment.
Over 108 protestors were compelled into NYPD corrections buses, with some requiring assistance to be removed. Subsequently, a group of additional demonstrators was observed rushing towards the police vehicles to impede their departure from the scene. Additionally, officers dismantled numerous tents and disposed of them in the trash.
“I applaud the cops. They are doing the right thing,” a 20-year-old student of the university said, wishing to remain anonymous, according to New York Post. We don’t feel safe. We fear for our lives.” “Remember who started this? Hamas, that terrorist group,” he added. “We pay a lot of money to come here and we should feel safe and protected.”
Shortly after 1 pm, dozens of officers were seen on the Morningside Height campus, donned in body armor and face shields.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik stated that she “authorized” the NYPD to intervene and halt the protest. Among those arrested is Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the “Squad”. All those detained received trespassing summonses, with two protesters additionally receiving summonses for obstruction of government administration.
