NEW YORK – The New York Police Department announced clearing an antiwar encampment on Tuesday night after Columbia University allowed the officers to move in.
The university reported some of the protesters at the university’s Hamilton Hall were not students or employees with permission to be on campus.
“Walk away from this situation now and continue your advocacy through other means. This must end now,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams told protesters during a news conference.
There were similar encampments and protests at Florida State University, the University of Florida, and others around the country.
The NYPD plans to remain on campus until May 17. The university released a statement saying there was vandalism and workers were threatened.
“The decision to reach out to the NYPD was in response to the actions of the protesters, not the cause they are championing,” the statement said. “We have made it clear that the life of campus cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules and the law.”
ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.