The video taken by the body cameras of New York City Police officers shows them forcing their way into a Columbia University Building that was overtaken this week by anti-Israel demonstrators.
Video shows NYPD officers in protective gear breaking into Hamilton Hall, where protesters were barricaded inside. The video was taken on Tuesday evening.
As officers approach the building, protesters can be heard singing “We will not move.”
Tarik Sheppard, NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner for Public Information, told “Your World Cavuto”, on Thursday, that many of the protesters weren’t students, but were outside agitators.
He said, “They are professionals. They might just fly in for one or two days and then leave. They’ll be traveling all over the country and have funding.”
Sheppard continued, “The students were already upset and passionate about the issue. Now you hear someone whispering to your ear, ‘Hey you know, let’s take over the school’ or similar.” When young minds are in this state, it is easy to be influenced and manipulated by someone who is an expert at manipulation.
The officers are seen in the bodycam footage using a tool on a Hamilton Hall front door that had multiple chairs against it.
The officers found a barrier made of furniture-looking objects that they had to see through. Outside, protesters can be heard chanting: “Free Palestine!”
A police officer said, “Let’s detonate a flashbang” (grenade) followed by loud bangs. Officers cut through the barrier and came into contact with detained protesters inside a room.”
Sheppard added that the NYPD was only permitted to remove protesters after the university requested it. Several universities in the city asked for the NYPD’s presence to be on campus until at least the middle of May.
“Many of them have requested that. We’ve asked that they develop a plan for self-sustainability. We will not abandon them, and we do not want to see the campuses return to their previous state,” he said.
