A Manhattan judge on Thursday dismissed charges against nearly 50 students and staff arrested during an NYPD raid at Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall as it was occupied by pro-Palestinian demonstrators while tensions simmered across U.S. campuses in April.
Students donning keffiyahs and face masks packed a courtroom at Manhattan Criminal Court, where officers warned any outburst or reaction would not be tolerated.
Prosecutors recounted the events at the Harlem campus on April 30, when hundreds of NYPD officers in riot gear stormed an administrative building pro-Palestinian protestors had seized.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
A NYPD officer arrests a student at Columbia University in New York City on April 30. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
The students took over Hamilton Hall shortly after Columbia President Minouche Shafik warned students who previously set up an an encampment on the school’s main lawn that they’d be subject to disciplinary action if they refused to leave.
Cops arrested 109 people during the raid — about 50 of them from within the occupied building. Another 173 were arrested the same night at a separate raid uptown at City College
Thirty of those arrested at Hamilton Hall were charged with trespassing, but their lack of criminal history and the “extremely limited video and security footage” available to prosecutors hindered any investigation, according to Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Stephen Millan.
Security cameras inside Hamilton Hall were almost immediately covered by some of the defendants, who were could not be identified, according to prosecutors.
“No police officers were injured,” Millan said. “It would therefore be extremely difficult for the People to prove any charge other than trespass at trial.”
Defense attorney Matthew Daloisio, representing the other 16 charged with trespassing, claimed many of his clients were doxxed, or had their personal information publicly exposed online, and “there is no allegation they damaged property.”
Those who were arrested at Columbia on April 30 but not charged with trespassing received summonses or desk appearance tickets, instead.
Potential disciplinary actions by the university was also a factor in prosecutors’ decision to recommend dismissal of charges, which a Manhattan Criminal Court judge signed off on.
James Carlson, facing separate charges of arson and criminal mischief for burning an Israeli flag and breaking an NYPD camera, had his case adjourned to July 25.
