NNew York police removed a pro-Palestinian protest camp at Columbia University on Thursday and arrested more than 100 protesters, including the daughter of a prominent Minnesota congresswoman.
Several students involved in the protest said they were also suspended from Columbia and Barnard College, including Isra Hirsi, who is the daughter of Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Omar questioned Columbia President Nemat Shafik at a Wednesday congressional hearing about the school’s targeting of pro-Palestinian protesters.
Police said 108 people, including Hirsi, were charged with trespassing at the private Ivy League institution. Two people were also charged with obstructing government administration.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the city was asked in writing by university officials to remove the encampment.
“Students have the right to free speech, but they do not have the right to violate university policies and disrupt learning on campus,” Adams said.
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Students had been protesting on campus since Wednesday morning, opposing Israeli military action in Gaza and demanding that the school divest from companies that they claimed “profit from Israeli apartheid.”
Shafik issued a statement saying the school warned protesters on Wednesday that they would be suspended if the camp was not removed. School officials made the decision Thursday to call police and expel the protesters, she said.
“The individuals who established the camp violated a long list of rules and policies,” she wrote.
Shafik also said the university tried through several channels “to engage with their concerns and offered to continue discussions if they agreed to disband.”
The school said it was still identifying students involved in Thursday’s protest and added that more suspensions would follow.
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Police moved in early Thursday afternoon, using zip ties to arrest protesters and escort them to waiting buses before removing tents.
Police Commissioner Edward Caban said the arrests were peaceful and that protesters were cooperative.
Pro-Palestinian protesters reorganized on campus a short time later, chanting “Shame.”
“We demand full amnesty for all students disciplined for their involvement in the camp or the Palestinian liberation movement,” the protest coalition said in a statement.
Emails and voicemails were left at Omar’s office Thursday afternoon seeking comment.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
