Columbia president says she called in police after ‘drastic escalation’ by pro-Palestinian protesters

Police officers stand outside a gate of the Columbia University campus, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Police officers stand outside a gate of the Columbia University campus, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Columbia University’s president releases a statement this morning to members of the college community outlining why she called in police the night before.

Nemat Shafik says protesters taking over an administration building on campus early Tuesday was a “drastic escalation” of the encampment at the college, which “pushed the University to the brink, creating a disruptive environment for everyone and raising safety risks to an intolerable level.”

Shafik, who goes by Minouche, acknowledged the school has a “long and proud” history of activism on campus, but argued those occupying the building committed “acts of destruction, not political speech.”

“I know I speak for many members of our community in saying that this turn of events has filled me with deep sadness. I am sorry we reached this point,” she wrote.

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