Charges dropped for Columbia students arrested at pro-Palestinian protests
GuardianJun 26
Charges Dropped for Dozens of Columbia University Protesters
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Above: Protesters lock arms after barricading themselves inside Hamilton Hall on April 30, 2024. Image copyright: Alex Kent/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Dozens of people who were arrested during pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University in New York in April had their cases dismissed by a judge on Thursday.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office announced that 15 of the 46 people initially arrested will still face charges. But 30 cases of trespassing were dismissed because the defendants had no previous criminal record. One other previously had their case dismissed.
The Spin
Conservative narrative
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has once again proven he's soft on crime. And, even worse, Columbia's faculty is showing sympathy toward these vandals, who should face prosecution to teach them a lesson. Their defiant post-court press conferences proved they're in dire need of discipline.
Progressive narrative
Considering their lack of criminal histories, it makes sense to drop the criminal charges and allow the university to handle discipline. Columbia and the armed police overreacted to people exercising their First Amendment rights, and these people shouldn't have to be harassed any longer by the criminal justice system.
