A group of pro-Palestinian student demonstrators have reported injuries following a raid on Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall last month. This contradicts assurances from Mayor Adams and the NYPD that no injuries or violent clashes happened during the operation.
Alleged Injuries by Protesters
Nine out of the 46 protesters detained inside Hamilton Hall on April 30 documented injuries from the incident. These protesters have revealed their injuries through interviews, medical records, photographs, and written accounts.
The reported injuries among the group varied. One person stated they were sent to Harlem Health and Children’s Hospital due to a severe laceration after being taken into custody. Another person claimed to have X-rayed a painful wrist at New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital following their arrival at the police headquarters.
Several others among the injured went for treatment days after the incident. They reported an eye bone fracture, several head injuries, multiple instances of hand burn or pain, an ankle sprain, and some lingering wounds.
Outside the Building: The Aftermath
A Columbia Journalism School PhD student, Allie Wong, 38, reported being injured while helping a classmate. As per Wong, the injuries happened when police tried to clear the way into the building. She recounted being struck in the head by either a shield or a baton and subsequently thrown to the ground twice. Medical records confirm Wong’s hand pain, a head welt, and sore ribs. Since then, Wong’s charge has been dismissed.
25-year-old Christopher Holmes, a graduate student at the Columbia-affiliated Union Theological Seminary, also confirmed injuries. After the raid, Holmes attended urgent care where he was diagnosed with a concussion. Later, he experienced eye swelling and was treated for an orbital lobe fracture.
The Protest, Arraignments, and Aftermath
The occupation of Hamilton Hall by Columbia student protesters forms part of a broader call for Columbia to divest from Israel. After the takeover, which involved window smashing and entrance barricading, Columbia officials asked the NYPD to clear the building. Their request came amidst growing concerns about anti-Semitic rhetoric and activities.
The arraignments that followed the raid included third-degree criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor, for protesters who were arrested inside Hamilton Hall. Meanwhile, myriad summonses issued to the 58 protesters outside the building are reportedly being dismissed.
Following the raid, NYPD officials praised their own conduct, with Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard commending the professionalism, restraint, and precision of his officers. Meanwhile, Mayor Adams lauded the calm and organized operation, claiming that there were no injuries or violent confrontations.
Similar praises came from Columbia University’s president, Minouche Shafik, who made no mention of the reported injuries in her memo to students and faculty.
Discrepancies in Official Statements and Protesters Claims
There exists a stark discrepancy between the official account and protesters’ claims. While an official statement from the mayor’s office did not directly address this discrepancy, it labelled the operation as “complicated”. Yet the same statement cites the professional and respectful handling of the operation by police officers.
Most of those arrested in Hamilton Hall were Columbia students or university employees, with a handful being alumni or unaffiliated with the university. Now, lawyers for the injured protesters are disputing the official narrative, contending that the force used by NYPD officers did indeed result in injuries.
In the wake of these revelations, Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, voiced concern about the lack of transparency and allegations of violence by NYPD officers.
The incident also raises questions about how police handle peaceful protests, the transparency of such operations, and the need for a thorough and objective investigation into these claims.