Around 100 arrested at Columbia University in NYPD operation to clear campus of protesters

The NYPD has arrested around 100 protesters on the Columbia University campus after receiving a letter from the school asking for assistance. No injuries have been reported so far in the NYPD operation, according to an NYPD spokesperson.

Police have cleared both Hamilton Hall and an encampment on the school's lawn, the NYPD tells NBC New York. About 40 arrests were made in Hamilton Hall, mostly on the first floor of the building. Police used 'flashbangs', or distraction devices, when entering Hamilton Hall but said tear gas was not used on protesters.

A short time before the operation started, campus security officials distributed a shelter-in-place alert as officers in riot gear were seen mustering outside the school's gates and protesters were told to disperse.

Columbia College Dean Sorett and Columbia Engineering Dean Chang sent an urgent update asking students to stay safe, with recommendations to avoid public areas on and around the campus. The area around Hamilton Hall was especially under focus after the events that took place there overnight.

NYPD officers in large numbers could be seen entering Hamilton Hall as protesters nearby yelled, "shame, shame, shame."

Columbia University released a statement around 9:30 p.m. explaining the decision to reach out to the NYPD for assistance. "A little after 9 p.m. this evening, the NYPD arrived on campus at the University’s request," the statement read. "This decision was made to restore safety and order to our community." The school said after protesters stormed into Hamilton Hall, "we were left with no choice."

The school has asked police to remain on campus through May 17 to ensure additional encampments do not pop up and and to maintain order.

Video footage earlier showed protesters locking arms in front of Hamilton Hall overnight and carrying furniture and metal barricades to the building, one of several that was occupied during a 1968 civil rights and anti-Vietnam War protest on the campus. Posts on an Instagram page for protest organizers shortly after midnight urged people to protect the encampment and join them at Hamilton Hall. A “Free Palestine” banner hung from a window. A protester was seen waving a Palestinian flag from the roof.

New York City's mayor and police commissioner had urged protesters to immediately leave an occupied building at Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus "before the situation escalates," making pleas at a Tuesday evening news conference.

"We urge those and everyone else violating Columbia's order to leave the area and leave the area now," Adams said. "And if you are a parent or guardian of a student, please call your child and urge them to leave the area before the situation escalates in anyway. This is for their own safety and for the safety of others."

The mayor and NYPD officials said a number of "external actors" with no relationship with Columbia have co-opted the protest to try to create chaos. Police said based on the tactics they are seeing, from the use of barricades to destroying cameras, and other intelligence they have gathered that there are outside agitators involved. Adams urged students to "walk away from the situation now."

"We cannot and will not allow what should be a peaceful gathering to turn into a violent spectacle that serves no purpose," Adams said. "We cannot wait until this situation becomes even more serious. This must end now."

Tuesday afternoon, the university released a statement saying the protesters chose "to escalate the situation through their actions." (Read the full statement at the bottom of this article)

"Students occupying the building face expulsion," the statement from a university spokesperson said. The university also said students who remain at an encampment on the school's lawn are currently being suspended.

The White House released a statement condemning the escalation, saying in part, "President Biden respects the right to free expression, but protests must be peaceful and lawful. Forcibly taking over buildings is not peaceful – it is wrong."

PHOTOS: Columbia University student protesters take over Hamilton Hall

The student radio station, WKCR-FM, broadcast a play-by-play of the hall’s takeover – which occurred nearly 12 hours after Monday’s 2 p.m. deadline for the protesters to leave an encampment of around 120 tents or face suspension.

"I saw a student get physically assaulted and people called the NYPD, people called Public Safety, there is no response, utter silence from their end," student Nico Valencia told NBC New York.

The NYPD said Tuesday it is in contact with Columbia University and has officers posted outside the campus, should the university ask for their help.

"If there's an imminent emergency, someone screaming for help, someone needed assistance, being hurt, we'll go on the property to address that situation," said NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey. "But as far as the protests, there's the people who's elevating their voice, we will not go onto that property until we get a specific request for Columbia University and as of right now we do not have that request. So this is where we stand right now."

But the NYPD said right now, its focus is safety and security on the perimeter of the Ivy League campus.

"This has gone to the next level and we have real cause for concern," NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner said. "And I want to point out that this is an escalation that, while it began last night at Columbia, we do expect it to continue beyond one building on one campus, but to other protests, to other universities, potentially to other cities."

Police say they were involved in two Columbia-related incidents a day ago -- one, an unfounded bomb threat at 116th Street and Broadway and the university. In the other, a 57-year-old woman from Brooklyn was charged at a scheduled demonstration with resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, obstruction and disorderly conduct.

As for Hamilton Hall, property damage, or possibly trespassing, might be the only issues at play at this point. The NYPD would need a complaint from Columbia to take action on the school's private property.

The NYPD said protesters occupying Hamilton Hall will be charged with third-degree burglary, criminal mischief and trespassing. Protesters participating in the encampment on the lawn will be charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct, according to NYPD officials.

A university spokesman confirmed the Hamilton Hall takeover and that the campus community had been notified. Ben Chang also said campus access had been restricted until further notice.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the situation at Columbia needs to be de-escalated with a sense of normalcy returned to campus.

"...when actions cross over into vandalism, harassment, destruction of property, or even violence, then the line has been crossed," Hochul said. "A few of the individuals participating in last night's actions, they forced staff from their jobs, students from the security of using buildings - they broke windows, barricaded exits - and these individuals are clearly breaking the law. There must be accountability, whether that's disciplinary action from the school or from law enforcement."

According to a statement from the Public Safety Department, access to the Morningside campus is limited to students living in the residential buildings and employees who provide essential services, like dining, public safety and maintenance staff. There's just one access point into and out of campus -- the 116th Street and Amsterdam gate.

All other campus entry points are closed.

"This access restriction will remain in place until circumstances allow otherwise," the statement said. "The safety of every single member of this community is paramount. We thank you for your patience, cooperation and understanding."

The overnight developments come a day after talks between university officials and student representatives remained at a standstill, according to a letter Columbia University President Minouche Shafik sent the school community.

The goal, for the university, is to have the tents dismantled and protesters adhere to university policies; peaceful demonstration can continue. Students, however, have refused to leave the encampment, demanding Columbia divest from Israel. Shafik says that's not on the table.

She offered a number of steps including more transparency and review for future investing proposals. The university also said it would invest in health and education in Gaza.

Meanwhile, it is now doling out suspensions to those who defied Monday's deadline. Students under suspension will not be able to access the school's facilities and their ID will be deactivated, a notice said. They won't be able to complete the semester; Monday marked the final day of classes for the spring term and finals are this week. The school said further sanctions for students who don't leave could include suspension for a term or more, and expulsion.

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Commencement is scheduled to take place at Columbia on Wednesday, May 15. Some other colleges have adjusted their graduation programs amid growing protests, including at USC, where the school canceled its main commencement. Columbia has not announced any changes at this point. Some of the commencement ceremonies at the Ivy League school are planned for the lawn where the encampment is currently located.

"We owe it to all of our graduates and their loved ones to honor their achievement," Shafik said. "We want to reassure our community who are trying to make plans that we will indeed hold a Commencement."

Seniors remain wondering what their commencement will look like.

"It’s pretty confusing — I’d like to know if I can participate in commencement," Rishabh Ganesh, a senior at Columbia told NBC New York. "I’m a graduating senior. Things are up in the air. It’s hard to focus.“

No serious injuries have been reported amid the protests.

Mayor Eric Adams has blamed unspecified "outsiders" for much of the volatility. He said Monday his administration has been in touch with presidents of local colleges, not just Columbia, but also NYU and FIT, to ensure student safety.

Columbia University statement to the media on Tuesday, April 30

"We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. Our top priority is restoring safety and order on our campus. 

We made it very clear yesterday that the work of the University cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules. Continuing to do so will be met with clear consequences. Protesters have chosen to escalate to an untenable situation – vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, and blockading entrances – and we are following through with the consequences we outlined yesterday.

Students occupying the building face expulsion.

Protesters were informed that their participation in the encampment violated numerous university policies. We gave everyone at the encampment the opportunity to leave peacefully. By committing to abide by University policies, they would be allowed to complete the semester. 

Students who did not commit to the terms we offered are now being suspended. Those students will be restricted from all academic and recreational spaces and may only access their individual residence. Seniors will be ineligible to graduate.

This is about responding to the actions of the protesters, not their cause.

As we said yesterday, disruptions on campus have created a threatening environment for many of our Jewish students and faculty and a noisy distraction that interferes with teaching, learning, and preparing for final exams, and contributes to a hostile environment in violation of Title VI. The safety of our community remains our top priority. 

--Ben Chang, Columbia University spokesperson"