New York Mayor Eric Adams stated on Wednesday that about 300 protesters were arrested at Columbia University and City College on Tuesday night.
“We are processing the arrests to distinguish between those who were actually students and those who were not supposed to be on the grounds,” Adams said. He added that the protests were led by individuals unaffiliated with the university, and the school required NYPD assistance to clear the area as part of dual operations on the grounds, which were carried out successfully.
These arrests emerged in the wake of demonstrations at colleges and universities across the nation linked to the conflict in Gaza. Many pro-Palestinian protesters are urging their colleges to divest funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on campus have characterized the protests as antisemitic and expressed concerns for their safety.
The student protests, some of which have evolved into around-the-clock encampments, have erupted nationwide following the arrests and removals of students at Columbia University in New York City. Similar protests have taken place at schools such as Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California, and others.
