The arrests have begun…
According to a New York Post report, the NYPD began clearing out pro-Palestinian protesters who were camped out on the grounds of Columbia University.
From The New York Post:
NYPD cops in riot gear swarmed Columbia University on Thursday afternoon and began arresting dozens of anti-Israel protesters after the school’s president made the bombshell decision to clear the campus.
Minouche Shafik wrote in an email to students, faculty and staff that she made the call despite her hopes that the move would “never be necessary.”
Shortly after 1 p.m., hordes of cops in body armor and face shields descended on the Morningside Heights campus and surrounded the encampment, which had been set up since early Wednesday.
Police started to arrest those at the scene, and blocked off 114th and 115th streets south of the campus’s main entrance.
Watch the clips below:
UPDATE: The NYPD have now arrested the legal observers at the Columbia University Palestine solidarity encampment pic.twitter.com/hpCShcZPVf
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) April 18, 2024
#NOW SRG and other officers have rushed into the Columbia University, blocking all entrances and preparing multiple prisoner busses. Encampment participants have been told to disperse Pro-palestine Liberated Zone or face arrests.
According to campus radio, the few journalists… pic.twitter.com/Oow3TkmYXd
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 18, 2024
#BREAKING Police in riot gear are lined up around Columbia University with handcuffs. NYPD placed a freeze zone on surrounding streets, it appears that raid and Arrests of ‘Liberated Zone’ Pro-palestine encampment inside may be imminent.
Video by Olga Fe [email protected] to… pic.twitter.com/iGoEyxdHZX
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 18, 2024
Arrests being made on Columbia University campus right now! pic.twitter.com/GlEhEwzdnZ
— V24_Investigations (@V24Investigates) April 18, 2024