CJS FACT-CHECK

Investigative journalists @columbiajourn fact-checking misinformation about the protests on campus. Tips: [email protected]

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Want to learn more about who we are and what we're doing? Check out the answers to some frequently asked questions here: https://t.co/Tg61FRd7TD

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Here is the official statement released by @ColumbiaSJP:

https://t.co/yonCC2zCiq

[Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine @ColumbiaSJP]

BREAKING NEWS: WE ARE BACK! A group of Palestinian students supported by @Columbiabds have established a new encampment amidst Columbia College’s alumni reunion #Revolt4Rafah

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Campus update as of 9:02pm: A “Revolt for Rafah” encampment has been set up on the South Lawn of the Columbia campus. “We are back,” read an X post by @ColumbiaSJP this evening. (1/2)

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The sergeant, he continued, has been “on the unit for almost 8 years with [an] impeccable record,” and will be sent back to training. Citing “protocol” for accidental discharges, the police department said it will not voluntarily release the body cam footage from this incident.

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Campus Update as of 12:13pm (5/3): At an 11:30am press briefing by the NYPD on the “accidental firearm discharge” at Hamilton Hall, the ESU Chief Carlos Valdez said the shot was fired by a sergeant when he was changing the weapon from his dominant to non-dominant hand.

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According to the official press conference transcript, the NYPD made a total of 282 arrests — 109 from Columbia University, and 173 from the City College of New York.

Full transcript can be found here: https://t.co/kaZuecqvWT (2/2)

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CORRECTION: In this tweet yesterday quoting the NYPD press conference, we said that 119 and 163 from Columbia University and City University of New York, respectively, were arrested. That is incorrect. (1/2)

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This took place while student journalists were attempting to re-enter Pulitzer Hall.

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IMPORTANT CONTEXT to reports that the @columbiajourn Dean Jelani Cobb, was "nearly arrested."

Everyone at the journalism school building — faculty, students & the dean — were told by the NYPD to stay inside the building during their operation or face the possibility of arrest.

[Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine @ColumbiaSJP]

Reports that NYPD nearly arrested the Dean of Journalism tonight after he advocated for the rights of press to film the events tonight. Columbia University has reached shockingly new lows tonight.

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The initial charges on those arrested, according to NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban, are trespassing, criminal mischief and burglary. It is unclear how many of those arrested were students, Caban continued. (2/2)

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A few minutes ago, police started allowing students to exit John Jay after more than two hours of keeping them inside, the student journalist reported. (4/4) #ColumbiaUniversity

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THREAD: In this tweet, which has 100,000 views, Jenna Fredo claimed the attached video shows student protesters "whining because the NYPD has barricaded them inside the building they broke into and occupied." This claim is FALSE. (1/4)

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To prevent anyone from leaving John Jay during the ongoing police activity on campus, officers barricaded at least a dozen students - including some student journalists - inside, said a CJS journalist who was trapped in the building and witnessed the events in the video. (3/4)

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Campus Update as of 11:43pm (4/30): Over two hours since the NYPD entered the Columbia campus, they are yet to "secure the campus" and are not letting anyone inside — including students and journalists, according to NYPD officers.

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Over a hundred NYPD officers entered campus just past 9pm today.

Full letter here: https://t.co/qnqHzPLN2t.

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Campus Update as of 11:00pm (4/30): In a letter sent to the NYPD, Columbia President Minouche Shafik, requested that the police force "retain a presence on campus through at least May 17, 2024 to maintain order and ensure encampments are not reestablished." (1/2)

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BREAKING: @NYPD have entered the Columbia campus, including the encampment and Hamilton Hall, and have begun making arrests. #Columbia

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1. As per the media update released by the @Columbia spokesperson at 12:55pm, these students "face expulsion." The university has not released any statement regarding criminal charges yet.
2. There is no evidence that the student groups involved have expressed support for Hamas.

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Both the claims in this tweet - that all the charges have been "dropped" against the protesters who occupied Hamilton Hall this morning, and that they are "pro-Hamas rioters" - are FALSE. (1/2)

[Kyle Becker @kylenabecker]

BREAKING.🚨

All charges have been *DROPPED* against Pro-Hamas rioters who took over Hamilton Hall at Columbia University on Monday night.

Columbia U. refused to let NYPD in despite protesters allegedly committing unlawful detention, vandalism & assault.

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"Those students will be restricted from all academic and recreational spaces and may only access their individual residence. Seniors will be ineligible to graduate," it said. The identities of these students are unknown to the @CJS_Factcheck team. (2/2)

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Campus Update as of 2:12pm (4/30): At 12:55pm, University Spokesperson Ben Chang released a statement saying that the students occupying Hamilton Hall face expulsion, while students who remained in the encampment & did not accept @Columbia's "terms" are being suspended. (1/2)