Police officers of the New York Police Department have restored order on the CUNY City College of New York campus after it had been overrun by anti-Israel protesters.
CUNY officials said they asked the New York Police Department for assistance in clearing protesters, including a "large crowd" of people who had marched from Columbia University to City College.
Nearly 282 individuals were arrested overnight at CCNY and Columbia after the NYPD was called on to clear out anti-Israel protesters who had been occupying the campuses. According to the NYPD, 173 individuals were arrested at The City College of New York and 109 at Columbia University. It is unclear how many of those were students, faculty, or individuals not affiliated with the schools.
After clearing out protesters from CCNY, police officers tore down a Palestinian flag hung on a flagpole on campus and replaced it with an American flag.
“An incredible scene and proud moment as we have assisted City College NY in restoring order on campus, culminating in raising Old Glory once again on their campus flagpole,” said NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry.
The UJA Federation of New York commended the NYPD for its actions on the NYC campuses, writing: "Last night’s actions at Columbia, including arresting those who unlawfully seized and vandalized a university building, represent an important step in restoring a safe environment for students on campus. We urge Columbia - and universities across the country - to enforce existing rules promptly and transparently to ensure the security and well-being of all on their campus. We remain principally focused on the safety of Jewish students and we are supporting and working with our partners at Hillel and UJA’s Community Security Initiative (CSI), who continue to help provide security advice on multiple New York area campuses.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a briefing following the arrests that while some students were involved in the protests — they were "led by individuals not affiliated with the university."
He said the NYPD was called to the campus at the request of university officials, who acknowledged to police that "outside agitators were on their ground training and really co-opting this movement."
“There is a movement to radicalize young people. I'm not going to wait till it’s done to acknowledge the significance of it,” Adams said.
The anti-Israel protest encampments that began at Columbia University have spread to campuses across the country. Overnight at UCLA in California, counterprotesters clashed with anti-Israel demonstrators, with the former attempting to dismantle the protest encampment.