Officers with the New York City Police Department restored the American flag on the City College of New York campus after it was replaced with a Palestinian flag by anti-Israel agitators during a protest.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry applauded the move on X, formerly Twitter, at around 12:39 a.m. Wednesday – not long after officers gained control of the campus.

“An incredible scene and proud moment as we have assisted @CityCollegeNY in restoring order on campus, culminating in raising Old Glory once again on their campus flagpole,” Daughtry wrote on X.

It’s unclear when the Palestinian flag was raised on the campus’ flagpole, but Within Our Lifetime Palestine, a pro-Palestinian account on X, posted a video of it flying in place of the American flag at 8:59 p.m. Tuesday.

ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS SET UP ENCAMPMENT AT NY CITY COLLEGE

In similar fashion to nearby Columbia University, CCNY had been experiencing days of anti-Israel protests on campus as agitators called for the university to divest from Israel and for a cease-fire in Gaza, among other things.

The protests came to a head Tuesday evening when “a large crowd of demonstrators” marched from Columbia to CCNY, according to a statement released early Wednesday morning by the City University of New York (CUNY), the system overseeing CCNY. 

Local news outlets reported that the agitators were firing off flares at the entrance to the CCNY campus.

Anti-Israel agitators marched from the Columbia University campus to the City City of New York campus Tuesday night, firing off red flares near the CCNY entrance. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

CUNY public safety initially responded and arrested 25 participants, CUNY said, but the system ultimately made “the difficult decision” to request backup from the NYPD, which arrived at about 11:45 p.m. and made an undisclosed number of arrests.

The City College Of New York (CUNY) said it made the “difficult decision” to call in the NYPD for backup once anti-Israel demonstrations at the City College of New York campus got out of hand. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

UNIVERSITIES CRACK DOWN ON ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS AS PROTESTERS CALL FOR ‘AMNESTY’

The statement said “a series of violent incidents” during the anti-Israel protests over the past six days put public safety and the campus community at risk and led to the decision.

“This includes a fire Sunday night at the Marshak Science Building caused by use of a flare gun that brought FDNY to campus, clashes with public safety, an attempted break-in at Shepard Hall tonight, and a break-in at the Administration Building tonight that included the vandalizing of offices and smashing glass doors,” the statement said.

CUNY made clear that students are allowed to “demonstrate peacefully and exercise their First Amendment rights,” but “specific and repeated acts of violence and vandalism” will not be tolerated.

CUNY said students in its system have the right to protest peacefully and to exercise their First Amendment rights, but said “violence and vandalism” are unacceptable.  (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

“CUNY will continue working to keep our community free from violence, intimidation and harassment,” the statement concluded. 

In an emergency message on Tuesday, City College President Vince Boudreau said all campus operations would be online until further notice beginning Wednesday.

Biglaw firms must be really eager to “pahk the car in Hahvahd Yahd,” because there’s currently a rush on opening new offices in Boston. In a little more than a week, three Am Law 100 firms have announced their plans for new Boston locations, and one firm even initiated a massive group lateral move to get a Boston legal team in place. We’re got more than a feeling that this is a trend in the making.

Simpson Thacher will open its Boston office “later this year,” and Kenneth Burdon, a registered funds partner from Skadden, will help the firm throw open its doors. Nathan Somogie, an STB partner in New York, will also head to Massachusetts to assist. As noted by the American Lawyer, the firm plans to advise clients in asset management and other financial institutions, health care, biotechnology, life sciences, and technology on their transactional, disputes, regulatory, and enforcement needs.

Paul Hastings is also planning to open up shop in Beantown through the hiring of Sidley Austin private equity co-leader, Alexander Temel. Joining him will be Sidley private equity partner William Schwab. “[W]e believe Boston provides fertile ground in private equity, life sciences, funds formation, litigation, capital markets, and other areas that are synergistic across many of our strengths,” Paul Hastings chair Frank Lopez said of the firm’s expansion.

Last, but certainly not least, Blank Rome recently picked off a 25-lawyer team of corporate and cannabis lawyers from Burns & Levinson to get its footprint in Boston, making it the firm’s 16th office. “We have considered adding a cannabis industry team for a number of years,” said Grant Palmer, Blank Rome’s chair and managing partner. “We have clients who have invested in the cannabis industry or provide services in the cannabis space… We’ve been looking at Boston for some time because we have a number of clients there.”

Back in 2023, three Biglaw firms — Covington & Burling, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, and Akin Gump — all opened offices in Boston. Now, three more Biglaw firms will be joining them. Who will be next? If you’ve got any information on which firms will be the next in the rush to become Massholes, please let us know.

Simpson Thacher Plans Boston Office, Hires Skadden Funds Partner [American Lawyer]
Paul Hastings Lands Co-Leader of Sidley’s PE Practice in 2-Partner Move [American Lawyer]
Blank Rome Recruits 25 Burns & Levinson Lawyers to Launch Boston Office [American Lawyer]

Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on X/Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.