In a dramatic turn of events late Tuesday, officers in New York City took protesters into custody following Columbia University’s summoning of police to put an end to the pro-Palestinian occupation on its campus. The scene unfolded shortly after 9 p.m. as police, donning helmets and equipped with zip ties and riot shields, amassed at the entrance of the Ivy League institution. Swift action was taken as officers breached Hamilton Hall, a key administrative building on campus, in a bid to clear out the protesters.

The demonstrators had seized Hamilton Hall more than 12 hours prior, extending their presence from an encampment elsewhere on the grounds that had been established nearly two weeks prior. Just before the officers’ intervention, the New York Police Department received authorization from Columbia, as disclosed by a law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.

This intervention came hours after the NYPD leadership had declared that officers wouldn’t enter Columbia’s campus without a direct request from the university administration or in cases of imminent emergencies. The series of protests ignited by Columbia earlier in the month have now spread from California to Massachusetts, mounting pressure on administrators as May commencement ceremonies draw near.

Over the past fortnight, more than 1,000 protesters have been apprehended across various campuses in states such as Texas, Utah, Virginia, North Carolina, New Mexico, Connecticut, Louisiana, California, and New Jersey, following clashes with law enforcement outfitted in riot gear. Mayor Eric Adams of New York City urged the Columbia protesters to disperse peacefully before the police arrived, emphasizing the need to de-escalate the situation.

The White House also weighed in earlier that Tuesday, condemning the standoffs at Columbia University and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where protesters had occupied two buildings until police intervention led to the arrest of 25 individuals. The damage incurred at the Northern California campus was estimated to exceed $1 million.

President Joe Biden, through National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, voiced his disapproval of students occupying academic buildings, branding it as antithetical to peaceful protest. While some colleges have sought negotiations with the demonstrators in hopes of ensuring peaceful commencement ceremonies, the prospects of such agreements remain uncertain amidst ongoing cease-fire talks.

Northwestern University managed to broker a rare compromise, permitting peaceful demonstrations on its campus near Chicago until the end of spring classes, after negotiations with protesting students and faculty. The wave of nationwide campus protests originated at Columbia in response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza following a deadly attack by Hamas on southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Israel’s supporters have labeled the university protests as antisemitic, while critics argue that such accusations are aimed at stifling dissent. Despite isolated incidents of antisemitic rhetoric and threats among protesters, organizers maintain that the movement is peaceful, aimed at advocating for Palestinian rights and opposing the war.

On Columbia’s campus, protesters assembled early Tuesday, linking arms and ferrying furniture and metal barricades to Hamilton Hall, reminiscent of similar actions during a 1968 civil rights and anti-Vietnam War protest. The takeover followed an ultimatum to abandon a tent encampment on Monday, with protesters facing suspension and restrictions from academic and recreational spaces.

Mahmoud Khalil, a lead negotiator, found himself among the suspended students after talks with the administration collapsed over the weekend. Khalil contested the university’s claims, stating compliance with the demand to vacate the encampment by the deadline. Columbia spokesperson Ben Chang warned of expulsion for occupying protesters, citing escalating vandalism and disruptions.

Despite police clearing an earlier encampment on April 18 and arresting over 100 people, students defiantly reinstated tents on the Manhattan campus, protesting Israeli military actions in Gaza and demanding divestment from implicated companies.

The Columbia University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors criticized the administration’s handling of the situation, alleging disregard for faculty input and foreseeing potential conflicts between police and protesters.

As tensions escalate, the responsibility falls on university leadership to navigate a resolution that ensures both safety and the protection of academic freedom.