Nearly all the protesters charged with storming and occupying Columbia University’s campus during heated anti-Israel demonstrations won’t face criminal charges, Manhattan prosecutors announced Thursday — drawing outrage from law enforcement and Jewish advocates.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office dismissed cases against 31 of 46 people charged with trespassing in the Ivy League school’s Hamilton Hall after a dramatic April 30 NYPD raid rounded up protesters on the Morningside Heights campus.
Prosecutors largely cited lack of evidence, such as security video footage, that could tie the students or staff to the building takeover for leaving them free and clear without even a slap on the wrist.
The dismissals quickly drew fury from rank-and-file NYPD officers, higher education officials and Jewish leaders who spoke with The Post.
“This is turnstile justice,” said Michael Nussbaum, a 25-year member of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.
“This a green light for chaos, a green light for destroying property.”
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Stephen Millan said that prosecutors had trouble moving forward with charges due to “extremely limited” video surveillance that couldn’t prove anything was damaged inside the building.
Milan also told Judge Kevin McGrath that cameras inside Hamilton Hall were covered up during the police raid, and that no cops were injured.
“It would be extremely difficult for the people to prove any charge of misconduct,” Millan said in Manhattan Criminal Court, adding the each of the individuals getting their cases tossed had no criminal history.
Protesters wore masks during the demonstration, making it difficult to point out the specific antics of each individual, the DA’s office added.
Students and staffers at Columbia, Barnard or the Union Theological Seminary who had their charges dropped face disciplinary action by the school, which also factored into the decision, prosecutors said.
Notorious protester Aidan Parisi, 27, a postgrad student in social work at Columbia, was among the 31 to have their cases dismissed.
The lone remaining Hamilton Hall defendant is James Carlson, the scion of millionaire ad executives who owns a $2.3 million home in Park Slope.
Carlson, who has been dubbed as the “possible leader” of the Columbia University protests, faces hate crime, assault and petit larceny raps for allegedly torching an Israel supporter’s flag and then hitting the 22-year-old in the face with a rock during an April demonstration.
He is also accused of destroying a camera inside a holding call at One Police Plaza after he was taken into custody during the Hamilton Hall takeover.
Prosecutors said they plan to move forward with charges against Carlson, who’s been dubbed a wannabe bad boy and is due back in court July 25.
His attorney, Moira Meltzer-Cohen, said that Carlson disputes the “validity of many of these allegations.”
The DA’s office told another 14 individuals — including 12 people not affiliated with the Ivy League school — that their cases would be thrown out on certain conditions.
But defense attorney Matthew W. Daloisio argued that they should have their cases tossed immediately, saying that no one was hurt or damaged property.
“The only allegation that was different is that they weren’t enrolled or currently a faculty member,” Daloisio told the judge, adding that this group included “alumni [and] community members concerned of genocide.”
Prosecutors also threw out nine cases — including six students — who were charged for occupying a building at the City College of New York protests on April 30.
Several police sources could barely contain their disbelief to The Post.
“Lack of evidence?” one said. “Apparently body-worn camera wasn’t enough?”
“We have a DA giving them what amounts to a mandate to push the envelope further now,” fumed another veteran cop.
Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, who served 15 years as trustee on the governing board for CUNY, said it strained belief that authorities couldn’t identify anyone.
“How can it be that you can’t identify a single person?” he said.
“It’s not acceptable and it’s not good for the city.”
No comments:
Post a Comment