New York City police have restored the American flag on the campus of the City University of New York, which was replaced by a Palestinian flag by anti-Israel agitators during the protests.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry praised the move on X (formerly Twitter) at around 12:39 a.m. Wednesday, shortly after officers took control of the campus.
“It was a great sight and a proud moment as we assisted @CityCollegeNY in restoring order to campus, culminating in us hoisting Old Glory back on the campus flagpole,” Daughtry wrote on X. .
It is unclear when the Palestinian flag was flown on the campus flagpole, but X’s pro-Palestinian account, Within Our Lifetime Palestine, posted a video Tuesday at 8:59 p.m. showing the Palestinian flag being flown in place of the Stars and Stripes. .
Anti-Israel protesters set up camp at City University of New York
NYPD officers removed a Palestinian flag from the City University of New York and replaced it with an American flag Wednesday morning after taking back control of the campus following anti-Israel protests. (X/@NYPDDaughtry / Screenshot)
CCNY, like nearby Columbia University, had experienced several days of anti-Israel protests on campus, as agitators demanded the university withdraw from Israel, ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and more.
The protests culminated Tuesday night with “a large number of demonstrators” marching from Columbia to CCNY, according to a statement released early Wednesday by the City University of New York (CUNY), which oversees CCNY.
Local news outlets reported that agitators were firing smoke bombs at the entrance to the CCNY campus.
Anti-Israel agitators marched from Columbia University’s campus to the New York City campus Tuesday night and fired red smoke bombs near the CCNY entrance. (Spencer Pratt/Getty Images)
City public safety initially responded and arrested 25 participants, but the system ultimately made the “difficult decision” to request backup from the NYPD, which arrived around 11:45 p.m. However, the number of arrests was not made public, the city said.
The City University of New York (CUNY) said it had made the “difficult decision” to request assistance from the New York Police Department after anti-Israel protests on its campus got out of control. (Spencer Pratt/Getty Images)
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The statement said a “series of violent incidents” during anti-Israel protests over the past six days endangered public safety and the campus community and led to this decision.
“These include Sunday night’s fire in the Marshak Science Building caused by the use of flares that brought the FDNY onto campus, conflicts with public safety, an attempted break-in in Shepard Hall tonight, and tonight’s attack in the Administration Building. “This included the destruction of an office and the breaking of a glass door,” the statement said.
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City University said students are allowed to “peacefully demonstrate and exercise their First Amendment rights,” but that “specific and repeated acts of violence or vandalism” will not be tolerated.
City University said students in its system have the right to peacefully protest and exercise their First Amendment rights, but “violence and vandalism” will not be tolerated. (Spencer Pratt/Getty Images)
“CUNY remains committed to protecting our community from violence, intimidation, and harassment,” the statement concluded.
In an emergency message Tuesday, City College President Vince Boudreau said all campus operations will be online starting Wednesday until further notice.
