Tensions remain high on college campuses as pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue despite waves of arrests
Syndication: Westchester County Journal News
(New York, NY) – Mayor Eric Adams is standing by the actions of the NYPD following over 300 arrests in a week on college campuses in the city. Following the wave of arrests, Adams sat down with ABC’s This Week in an interview where he addressed the rising tensions.
Students have been organizing tent cities at colleges across the country. It began here in the Big Apple at Columbia University on April 17th. Ahead of a Congressional hearing on antisemitism with University President, Minouche Shafik, organizers created the so-called “Gaza Solidarity Encampment”.
Mayor Adams says that he understands the importance of protesting. He even says that he has some experience as a demonstrator himself protesting South African apartheid. However, as a former police officer and current mayor, Adams says the safety and security of the city is his number one priority. He claims that so-called outside agitators not associated with the schools are escalating campus protests.
Demonstrations have since spread across the state and country. Students are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and for schools to divest any funds tied to Israel.
NYPD officials did also recently confirm that an officer fired a gun while clearing out protestors that occupied an academic building at Columbia. Authorities say that a member of the Emergency Service Unit was attempting to enter a locked office in the occupied Hamilton Hall when the gun accidentally went off. The bullet did not end up harming anyone and the officer is being sent to retraining where he will be reevaluated.
