NYPD, AOC cross swords over Columbia protester arrests

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat, ripped Columbia University and the New York Police Department over the arrests of anti-Israel protesters, but the force isn’t taking her criticism lying down.

NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell defended Columbia’s decision to bring in officers last week to arrest student protesters. His stand came after Ms. Ocasio-Cortez blasted the university and police units as “violent.”

“Truly amazing! Columbia decided to hold its students accountable to the laws of the school. They are seeing the consequences of their actions,” Chief Chell wrote in a post Thursday on X. “Something these kids were most likely never taught. Good SAT scores and self-entitlement do not supersede the law. I am sure you would agree that we have to teach them these valuable life skills.”

Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the congressional left-wing Squad, accused the department of bringing in counterterrorism units against students holding forth in the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on campus.

“Not only did Columbia make the horrific decision to mobilize NYPD on their own students, but the units called in have some of the most violent reputations on the force,” she wrote on X. “NYPD had promised the city they wouldn’t deploy [Special Response Group] to protests. So why are these counterterror units here?”

Chief Chell said he was there during last week’s arrests and that the officers “removed students with great care and professionalism; not a single incident was reported.”

He added on X, directed at Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, “The only incidents that day on campus were the students’ hateful antisemitic speech and vile language toward our cops. I am sure you agree any hateful speech is unacceptable. You should rethink your comments to a simple thank you to the NYPD, and hate has no place in our society.”

He suggested the congresswoman walk the campuses of Columbia and New York University to “listen to their remarks of pure hatred.”

“I will ensure those ‘units’ will protect you as they do for all NYers 24/7/365,” Chief Chell said.

Truly amazing! Columbia decided to hold its students accountable to the laws of the school. They are seeing the consequences of their actions. Something these kids were most likely never taught. Good SAT scores and self-entitlement do not supersede the law. I am sure you would… https://t.co/zKQbjklzks

— NYPD Chief of Patrol (@NYPDChiefPatrol) April 25, 2024

Ms. Ocasio-Cortez also slammed the House Republican delegation led by House Speaker Mike Johnson that visited the Columbia campus Wednesday to meet with Jewish students and university officials.

“They have played a key role drumming up pressure to crack down on students and asymmetrically police Palestinian human rights speech,” she wrote Wednesday on X.

More than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested April 18 on the Columbia campus, then over 120 were apprehended Tuesday at NYU as the universities grapple with student unrest and campus antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Hamas, a federally recognized foreign terrorist organization, killed 1,200 Israeli civilians and others in a surprise Oct. 7 attack, prompting Israel to declare war.