New York police clear pro-Palestine sit-in at request of Columbia University

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The New York Police Department cleared a collective of pro-Palestinian students at a sit-in at Columbia University on Thursday at the request of the school’s President Minouche Shafik.

Video of the incident showed uniformed officers led onto campus by NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell and Deputy Commissioner for Operations Kaz Daughtry. Police cleared an encampment on a university lawn, threatening to arrest and charge those with trespassing anyone who refused.

"Shame on you," a raucous throng of students can be heard shouting as police entered with dozens of zip ties to take students into custody.

A crowd of students defied the order to disperse, sitting on the ground and locking arms. It is unclear how many students were arrested.