Anti-Israel protesters spewing anti-cop chants clashed with police at a rally outside Columbia University on Friday — leading to nine arrests over several hours.
The “All Out for Palestine” demonstration kicked off at 3 p.m. and less than two hours later protesters waving Palestinian flags could be seen in footage posted to social media scuffling with NYPD officers in the street.
“NYPD, KKK. IDF they’re all the same,” the group chanted as at least one protester was seen being detained by police.
A swarm of screaming protesters tried to intervene and rip cops off a woman as they tried to take her into custody in a scuffle, the clip shows.
The demonstration was organized in response to allegations that anti-Israel student demonstrators were sprayed with an unknown, foul-smelling chemical on Jan. 19 while marching through the campus of Columbia University.
The two alleged assailants were banned from campus following the incident and police kicked off an investigation into what “appears to have been serious crimes, possibly hate crimes,” Interim Provost Dennis A. Mitchell said last month.
When Friday’s main protest — attended by hundreds — died down, a smaller group marched south to West 107th Street and Broadway, where more arrests were made.
“You are violent thugs. You are criminals! You are the most violent. You are the most f–king violent,” one protester in custody yelled at cops from the back of a police van.
“It is right to rebel. NYPD, burn in hell! It is right to rebel. NYPD, burn in hell!” others chanted.
Pro-Palestinian protesters on Broadway and West 107 Street shout slogans at
A woman holding up a poster of kidnapped Israelis was chanting “Am Yisrael Chai” — a Jewish solidarity anthem — when protesters surrounded her and ripped it out of her hands.
“Don’t you dare!” the pro-Israel woman yelled before cops separated her from the crowd.
LINK: https://nypost.com/2024/02/02/metro/pro-palestinian-protesters-clash-with-cops-at-columbia-university-rally/
