Michael Gerber, the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters, emphasized on Monday that any form of violence, property damage, criminality, harassment, threats, menacing, stalking, or any other behavior not protected by the First Amendment will not be tolerated amidst anti-Israel demonstrations disrupting Columbia University.
Gerber highlighted that Columbia University is private property and unless there is an ongoing crime, the NYPD cannot freely enter the campus. He mentioned that historically, Columbia University has not wanted NYPD presence on campus, and it is the university's prerogative to decide on this matter.
Gerber recounted an incident where the NYPD was called onto the campus by the university to address trespassing students, but reiterated that such instances are exceptions to the general rule of not having NYPD presence on campus.
