31 out of 46 Columbia University students and employees who were charged with occupying a campus facility during a protest against the Israel-Hamas war this past spring had their charges dropped and sealed by the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
On April 30, during protests at the Ivy League institution as well as the City College of New York, around 300 individuals were taken into custody. A few dozen people facing more serious penalties, such as trespassing, were temporarily held and will face criminal court prosecution, while the others were given fines and released home. A judge heard the majority of the Columbia demonstrators who were accused in criminal court on Thursday.
Since security cameras were turned off nearly instantly after demonstrators entered Hamilton Hall last April 30, the district attorney’s office claimed in court that it lacked proof. The students and employees whose charges were dropped are already subject to disciplinary actions, according to the prosecution, who also stated that no police officers suffered any injuries during the arrests.
More than a dozen non-staff and student demonstrators who were detained at Columbia on April 30 turned down offers to have their charges eventually dropped if they complied with specific requirements. James Carlson, a demonstrator who is charged with burning an Israeli flag on April 20, is still being prosecuted by the DA’s office. Carlson’s defense lawyer stated in court that she didn’t think many of the accusations were true and that Carlson turned down a chance to finish a diversion program for one of the lesser offenses.
As per DA Alvin Bragg’s office, charges against six students at City College, where demonstrators were suspected of taking over a building and hurling items at law enforcement, have already been dropped. Prosecutors indicated that a number of non-university affiliated individuals turned down plea agreements.
