BREAKING: Hundreds of NYPD officers move in on Columbia occupation, protesters

The NYPD moved in on protesters occupying a Columbia University administration building on Tuesday evening, blocking off the streets from 113th to 118th and surrounding the Morningside campus.

After hundreds of officers marched up to campus, entered occupied Hamilton Hall with an erected stairway, and cleared the building, dozens of arrests were made. By the end of the night, NYPD had cleared Hamilton Hall.

University president Minouche Shafik said in a letter to NYPD, asking them to clear the encampment, that she believed outside agitators who were unaffiliated with the campus or students were the ones leading the protest and occupation. 

Officers could be seen outside the main gate on 116th on Tuesday evening in advance of their entering campus and the occupied administration building.

Paddy wagons and corrections buses were brought up to campus. Protesters yelled that the NYPD were the KKK and chanted for them to "quit your job."

NYPD brought a ladder up to the window of Hamilton Hall on Amsterdam and proceeded to climb inside to clear the building as protesters continued chanting "free, free Palestine.

After erecting a stairway, officers climbed up into Hamilton Hall in a long line. NYPD buses moved up to the building to prepare to transport those who were arrested.

Mass arrests were conducted on campus, caught by Freedom News. Multiple keffiyeh-clad students could be heard screaming as they were dragged away by officers.

The corrections buses were packed full of dozens of peopel who were arrested. 

Columbia professor Tim Naftali offered his concern for the escalation on campus.

As officers approached, it was reported by Omar Jimenez, who reported on the "fiery but mostly peaceful protests" in Kenosha, Wisc. in August 2020, that "Columbia University students have been ordered to “shelter in place” as a large group of police officers is amassing outside the gates of campus."

Another report indicated that officers were waiting for the go-ahead from school administrators before moving onto campus to conduct arrests.

Hundreds of cops moved through the streets. Officers mobilized at 113th and walked through the barricaded perimeter en masse.

NYPD officers marched up Broadway and did not receive support from the assembled crowd. Officers carried zip ties to facilitate arrests.

Protesters outside the campus, right outside the gates of the main campus on 116th and Broadway, continued to chant and protest for the eradication of Israel. They called for intifada, the violent uprising of Palestinians against Israel.

Protesters gathered outside the perimeter on 113th and Broadway shouting insults at cops.

As the officers approached, Columbia's chapter of Students for Justice Palestine called for people to "come to campus gates NOW and stand up for students." 

This was one of many calls to action the groups put out all day.

This came after New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said "We have been in close contact with colleges & universities across the state. They must ensure all campuses are safe & graduates can celebrate commencements in the coming weeks. We have offered to support efforts as needed." Some had called on her to bring in the National Guard to quell the student protests.

Earlier in the day, Columbia University administration said that anyone who continued to occupy Hamilton Hall would be expelled and that students who remained in the encampment outside on the quad would be suspended. Many already have been suspended.

The campus had been restricted and many from the press were not allowed into the campus.

Police also erected barricades with a wide perimeter. 

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