New York, NY, USA - April, 19.

In a recent turn of events at Columbia University in New York City, tensions escalated as NYPD officers, following orders, arrested a significant number of protestors during a pro-Palestinian demonstration on April 19th. The arrest operation, captured in a video shared by NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Kaz Daughtry, showcased law enforcement's actions amidst a growing student protest on campus.

Deputy Commissioner Daughtry praised the professionalism displayed by the police officers involved in the operation, commending the Strategic Response Group (SRG) for their restrained approach during the arrests. According to Daughtry, the arrests were carried out with minimal disruption, resulting in the apprehension of at least 108 individuals without incident.

The crackdown follows a series of events that unfolded on April 18th when Columbia University authorities, backed by law enforcement clad in riot gear, dismantled tents erected by pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus. Over 100 students were arrested during the operation, which was initiated in response to the university's commitment to Congress by President Nemat Shafik to address unauthorized protests decisively.

Explaining the necessity of the drastic measures taken, President Shafik justified the university's actions as a response to "extraordinary circumstances," as articulated in a campuswide email on Thursday afternoon. The move underscores the university's firm stance on maintaining order and addressing unauthorized protests, reflecting a broader discourse on free speech and activism on college campuses.