The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has dropped charges against the majority of protesters arrested during the occupation of Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall last month. Of the 46 individuals charged with trespassing, 31 had their cases dismissed due to lack of evidence, while 14 others were offered conditional dismissals.
The 31 cases dismissed involved students or staff at Columbia, Barnard, or Union Theological Seminary. For the 14 individuals offered conditional dismissals, mostly non-Columbia affiliated, their cases would be dropped if they avoid arrest for six months. However, these protesters rejected the offer and will return to court on July 25. One case remains active: James Carlson, unaffiliated with the university, faces additional charges including flag burning.
The Hamilton Hall occupation on April 30 was part of wider demonstrations against the Gaza war on U.S. college campuses. The DA’s office cited difficulty in proving cases due to covered surveillance cameras and masked protesters, highlighting the challenges in prosecuting campus protests when evidence is limited.
A Columbia official confirmed ongoing internal disciplinary proceedings for involved students. Some protesters rejected conditional dismissals to show support for others facing repression in the pro-Palestinian movement, underscoring the continuing tensions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict on university campuses.
As this situation develops, it remains a focal point in the broader discussion of free speech, protest rights, and the role of universities in global political debates. The case dismissals and ongoing disciplinary actions at Columbia reflect the complex interplay between legal consequences and campus policies in addressing student demonstrations.
