New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Wednesday (1/5), said the New York Police (NYPD) arrested 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University and the City College of New York amid a wave of protests in the United States (US).
“About 300 people were arrested at Columbia (University) and City College. We urged these arrests to differentiate students from those who should not be there,” Adams said at a press conference.
He explained that the protest was triggered by a number of external actors and not students, to create chaos.
On Tuesday, a Sputnik correspondent reported that NYPD officers, wearing helmets and carrying batons and plastic handcuffs, set up iron barricades several blocks from Columbia University.
Students opposing Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip have barricaded themselves and prevented people from contacting their friends on campus.
Columbia University Chancellor Minouche Shafik sent a letter to NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Legal Affairs Michael Gerber, asking police to remain on campus at least until May 17 to maintain order.
Also read: Protest in NYC for Gaza Ceasefire Holds Mock Funeral
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have emerged on US campuses in recent days to oppose the US military and its financial and diplomatic support for Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip.
The military operation has claimed the lives of more than 34,000 Palestinians and injured more than 77,000 others.
The students called on the university to condemn Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip, divest in companies linked to Israel, and stop study programs at Israeli universities, among other demands. (Ant/Z-1)
#Hundreds #ProPalestinian #Demonstrators #York #Arrested
