A Columbia University student recounted to The Recount her arrest at a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus, saying some students were held in zip ties for hours.
The graduate student, who is also a teacher’s assistant and member of the Student Workers of Columbia Union, said she was at the first encampment last Wednesday. She joined the protesters, who have been demanding that the university condemn Israel’s offensive in Gaza and divest from companies they say are helping fund the war.
“I really didn't think that they were going to arrest us, because that's kind of a crazy thing to do. So, we got word on Thursday morning that they were going to have the NYPD come in and do a sweep. And we just sat down and did a sit-in,” the student told The Recount Senior Social Media Manager Danielle Wolf in an interview Monday. “There were thousands and thousands of people on all sides of the lawn, you know, filming and chanting. And then the NYPD came in with their riot gear and started, one by one, arresting students, putting us in zip ties, taking us off campus.
“And then we were held in buses for, I don't know exactly how long. But then we were transported down to 1 Police Plaza for processing, and we didn't get unzip-tied for like six hours straight — or at least the people who I was with,” she said. “I actually have some shoulder injury from that.”
The student said she was charged with a trespassing violation, and claimed the NYPD could have just given her a ticket but the university wanted to “get all of our names.” She says she is now “indefinitely” suspended.
