The Manhattan district attorney's office, led by anti-Trump prosecutor Alvin Bragg, dismissed trespassing charges against 30 Columbia University protesters who were arrested for occupying a campus building.
In total, Bragg's office dismissed charges against 30 individuals arrested for occupying the building. As a result, the large majority of those who occupied Hamilton Hall will not face criminal penalties—46 people were arrested and charged in connection with the occupation.
The 30 protesters who saw their cases dismissed Thursday were arrested in an April 30 police sweep of Columbia's Manhattan campus, which came less than 24 hours after they stormed Hamilton Hall, used tables, chairs, and a human chain to block entry to the building, and hoisted an "intifada" banner.
Of the 112 people arrested that night, roughly two-thirds were affiliated with the university.
The prosecutor also argued that Bragg's office lacked evidence to land convictions in the cases, given those who occupied Hamilton Hall wore masks and covered up surveillance cameras. New York City police arrested the occupiers while they were inside Hamilton Hall.
@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
If you were one of the students at Columbia during the occupation, would you support the protesters' actions and why or why not?
@9PM74XS3mos3MO
yes because protesting for a nation undergoing a genocide is not bad
@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
What are your thoughts on the prosecutor stating a lack of evidence as a reason for dismissing charges, does this justify the decision?
@9PM8HF6Libertarian3mos3MO
They need to state what evidence they would require.
@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
How do you feel about the use of masks and covering surveillance cameras during protests, as seen in this case?
@9PM8HF6Libertarian3mos3MO
If cameras are being covered in a protest which is inherently legal or is against high surveillance, this should be fine.
@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
Do you believe it was fair for the Manhattan DA to drop charges against the Columbia protesters, considering their methods of protest?
@9PM8HF6Libertarian3mos3MO
Yes, they were unharmful and promoting a strong agenda shared by a large number of the US population.
Join in on more popular conversations.
