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A police officer who was involved in clearing protesters from a Columbia University administration building earlier this week fired his gun inside the hall, a spokesperson for District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office confirmed Thursday.
No one was injured, according to spokesperson Doug Cohen, who said there were other officers but no students in the immediate vicinity. He said Bragg’s office is conducting a review.
He did not provide additional details on the incident, which was first reported by news outlet The City.
On Thursday morning, hundreds of police officers dismantled a pro-Palestinian protest camp at the University of California at Los Angeles and arrested more than 130 demonstrators.
Live TV footage showed protesters under arrest, kneeling on the ground, their hands bound behind their backs with zip ties. Loud explosions were heard during the clash from flash-bang charges, or stun grenades, fired by police.
Meanwhile, 90 Gaza demonstrators were arrested at Dartmouth College.
President Joe Biden also denounced protests that turned violent on college campuses on Thursday.
VIDEO: NYPD tear down tents inside Fordham University to disperse Gaza protesters
NYPD tear down tents inside Fordham University to disperse Gaza protesters
NYPD officers tore down tents inside a Fordham University building on Wednesday, 1 May, as they cleared a Gaza protester encampment. Police escorted demonstrators away from the Lincoln Center campus. NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said “individuals who refused to disperse from the unlawful encampment… [were placed] under arrest.” Fordham University requested NYPD assistance, she added. It came amid similar action staged at other universities across the US; police arrested more than 130 demonstrators early Thursday at UCLA. Pro-Palestine encampment protests have also spread to the UK.
Katie Hawkinson3 May 2024 05:01
ICYMI: Human Rights Watch weighs in on response to protests
The Human Rights Watch, a non-governmental organisation that advocates for human rights, weighed in on the pro-Palestinian protests popping up across the country.
Louis Charbonneau, United Nations Director for the organisation, wrote that colleges must protect students’ right to protest.
“There have been troubling reports of antisemitic incidents in and around Columbia University’s campus,” Mr Charbonneau wrote. “Allegations of antisemitic acts and speech by individuals, as well as acts of Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination, should be investigated and addressed on the merits in a case-by-case basis, through fair and transparent processes.”
“As protests spread to campuses across the country, university administrations should be careful not to mislabel criticism of Israeli government policies or advocacy for Palestinian rights as inherently antisemitic or to misuse university authority to quash peaceful protest,” he continued. “Instead, universities should safeguard people’s rights to assembly and free expression.”
Katie Hawkinson3 May 2024 04:00
ICYMI: Coalition of Columbia faculty call for vote of no confidence in administrators
The Columbia University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors is calling for a vote of no confidence in President Minouche Shafik and her fellow administrators.
In a statement, the chapter condemned her decision to call the New York Police Department on protesters who had occupied Hamilton Hall Tuesday night.
“This decision was made without consultation with the University Senate, in violation of established procedures, by recourse to so-called emergency powers,” the chapter said in a Thursday statement. “It also flew in the face of efforts by the AAUP and faculty trusted by the student protestors to de-escalate the situation on campus and to serve as observers in negotiations–efforts endorsed by the University Senate chair that continued into the afternoon before the assault.”
More than 100 people were arrested on Columbia’s campus Tuesday evening.
Katie Hawkinson3 May 2024 03:00
Police officer clearing protesters from Columbia Univ. building fired gun, prosecutors say
A police officer who was involved in clearing protesters from a Columbia University administration building earlier this week fired his gun inside the hall, a spokesperson for District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office confirmed Thursday.
No one was injured, according to spokesperson Doug Cohen, who said there were other officers but no students in the immediate vicinity. He said Bragg’s office is conducting a review.
He did not provide additional details on the incident, which was first reported by news outlet The City.
The New York Police Department did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment.
Louise Boyle3 May 2024 02:39
Pulitzer Prize board praises student journalist efforts at Columbia
The Pulitzer Prize Board, housed under Columbia University, praised student journalists’ efforts to cover the protests even while facing “risk of arrest.”
“As we gather to consider the nation’s finest and most courageous journalism, the Pulitzer Prize Board would like to recognize the tireless efforts of student journalists across our nation’s college campuses, who are covering protests and unrest in the face of great personal and academic risk,” the board wrote on Thursday, four days ahead of announcing the 2024 prize winners.
“We would also like to acknowledge the extraordinary real-time reporting of student journalists at Columbia University, where the Pulitzer Prizes are housed, as the New York Police Department was called onto campus on Tuesday night,” they continued.
As The Independent’s Alex Woodward reported, student journalists worked round the clock to capture the historic demonstrations on college campuses across the country.
Katie Hawkinson3 May 2024 02:00
WATCH: Biden insists ‘order must prevail’ as police shut down college Gaza protests
Katie Hawkinson3 May 2024 01:00
ICYMI: Officers arrest 90 at Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire police officers arrested some 90 Gaza demonstrators at Dartmouth College overnight Wednesday into Thursday.
Those arrested included students and non-students, the police department said.
Katie Hawkinson3 May 2024 00:00
ICYMI: Pro-Palestine and Pro-Israel supporters chant ‘F*** Joe Biden’
Katie Hawkinson2 May 2024 23:00
WATCH: NYPD tear down tents inside Fordham University to disperse Gaza protesters
Katie Hawkinson2 May 2024 22:04
SEE IT: Palestinians thank protesters with signs in Gaza
Katie Hawkinson2 May 2024 21:36
