Northeast

NYPD crushes anti-American mob on NYC campuses as mayor blasts 'despicable' school environment

Published

2 weeks ago

May 2, 2024

New York City Mayor Eric Adams lauded the NYPD on Wednesday after officers swept through anti-American and anti-Israel mobs at two major college campuses overnight, locking up hundreds of agitators.

He then ripped into the “despicable” academic environment that allowed the groups to fester.

He singled out an incident when NYPD officers tore down a Palestinian flag that protesters had raised in place of the Stars and Stripes, praising officers for putting their lives on the line and noting his own uncle had died defending American values.

“My uncle died defending this country, and these men and women put their lives on the line – and it’s despicable that schools will allow another country’s flag to fly in our country,” Adams, a former NYPD captain, told reporters. “So blame me for being proud to be an American, and, I think, Commissioner Daughtry for putting that flag back up. We’re not surrendering our way of life to anyone.”

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LOCKS DOWN CAMPUS BUILDING FOLLOWING OVERNIGHT MUTINTY: ‘EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY’

Mayor Eric Adams holds up the request from Columbia University asking for New York City police to clear protesters from campus, where a building occupation and protest encampment had been set up, in New York City,on May 1, 2024. (Reuters/Mike Segar)

“…[I]t’s despicable that schools will allow another country’s flag to fly in our country.”
— Mayor Eric Adams

New York City’s law enforcement leaders delivered an update Wednesday morning, hours after sweeping through the historic Hamilton Hall at Columbia University and clearing out a group of anti-Israel agitators who had “occupied” the building as part of their ongoing demonstrations.

Adams warned that a global movement to “radicalize young people” is being led by individuals who are “not affiliated with the university” but nevertheless recruited students to “create chaos.”

WATCH: NYPD reraises American flag at CCNY after removing Palestinian flag

“There is a movement to radicalize young people, and I’m not going to wait until it’s done and all of a sudden acknowledge the existence of it,” he told reporters Wednesday morning. “This is a global problem that young are being influenced by those who are professionals and radicalizing our children. And I’m not going to allow that to happen. As the mayor of the city of New York.”

COLUMBIA STUDENT DESCRIBES CAMPUS FEAR, ANTI-ISRAEL SIGNS SUPPORTING TERROSISTS WHO ‘PUT BABIES IN AN OVEN’

Police finally stormed the structure after school administrators repeatedly retreated from enforcing deadlines demanding the groups dismantle their campus encampment over the past two weeks. Columbia University officials finally threatened the group with expulsion after students smashed their way into the school’s Hamilton Hall and “occupied” the building.

Anti-Israel agitators barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building which has been occupied in past student movements, on April 30, 2024, in New York City. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)

“There’s nothing peaceful about barricading buildings, destroying property or dismantling security cameras,” Adams said.

His remarks came after university officials finally asked police for support as campus demonstrations grew increasingly unruly.

“This may be the most memorable moment in a mayoralty that has thus far not been very memorable,” said Paul Mauro, a former NYPD inspector, who warned that the bravado may be a way for city leaders to soften the consequences for students involved in the chaos.

New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Edward Caban and Mayor Eric Adams appear at a press conference in New York

Police Commissioner Edward Caban speaks at a press conference while holding up chains and a lock removed by officers during their operation to clear protestors from Columbia University, where a building occupation and protest encampment had been set up, in New York City on May 1, 2024. (Reuters/Mike Segar)

“I want to see the numbers. They’re not all outside agitators. New York looked good the way it was handled by the NYPD… now though I see the meme developing that these are just kids led astray and that’s gonna be an excuse for them to go soft on these kids. These are not children – these are adults who are in one of the most prestigious institutions in the country and are our future leaders.”

Police arrested about 300 people at Columbia and at City College overnight.

SPEAKER JOHNSON CALLS OUT CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM AS COLUMBIA’S ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS SHOUT AT, HECKLE HIM

“Students occupying the building face expulsion,” school spokesman Ben Chang declared in bold letters in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

The blunt warning came about 12 hours after photos showed a mob of masked and keffiyah-clad demonstrators broke into the building, barricaded the doors and took it over.

Protesters have chosen to escalate to an untenable situation – vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, and blockading entrances – and we are following through with the consequences we outlined yesterday.
— Columbia University spokesman Ben Chang

“The work of the University cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules,” Chang said.

“Continuing to do so will be met with clear consequences. Protesters have chosen to escalate to an untenable situation – vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, and blockading entrances – and we are following through with the consequences we outlined yesterday.”

COLUMBIA STUDENT DESCRIBES CAMPUS FEAR, ANTI-ISRAEL SIGNS SUPPORTING TERRORISTS WHO ‘PUT BABIES IN AN OVEN’

columbia university protestor holds hammer next to door window

Students at Columbia University broke into Hamilton Hall on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Getty Images/Alex Kent)

Outside the occupied building, a group of like-minded activists linked arms and demanded the university bend to their requests that it divest from Israel-related companies and promise not to punish students involved in the demonstrations.

Critics have widely condemned the controversial encampments, which have cropped up at Columbia and other major university campuses, as an antisemitic display that threatens the safety of their Jewish classmates.

NYPD officers enter Columbia University's Hamilton Hall

New York Police Department officers enter the Columbia University building and detain anti-Israel demonstrators on April 30, 2024. The building was cleared of occupiers about two hours after the operation began, and over 100 people were taken into custody, according to multiple reports. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The school said it had already begun issuing suspensions and that seniors singled out for that punishment will not graduate on time.

“This is about responding to the actions of the protesters, not their cause,” Chang said. “As we said yesterday, disruptions on campus have created a threatening environment for many of our Jewish students and faculty and a noisy distraction that interferes with teaching, learning, and preparing for final exams, and contributes to a hostile environment in violation of Title VI.”

A view of the broken windows at the entrance door of Hamilton Hall. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Earlier on Tuesday, university officials declared a lockdown as a result of the Hamilton Hall break-in.

The NYPD later revealed video evidence that “professional” protesters were on the scene, egging on the students.

Supporters of Students for Justice in Palestine, one of the groups organizing the national anti-Israel demonstrations, insist they are carrying out peaceful protests.

Nemat Shafik looks straight ahead as she walks on campus

Columbia University President Nemat Shafik leaves the Low Memorial Library on the campus on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The embattled president, who is under pressure to resign her post, reportedly met with House Speaker Mike Johnson before his speech at the university earlier. (Fox News Digital)

However, Jewish students at Columbia and elsewhere tell Fox News Digital they are facing harassment, discrimination and physical threats.

COLUMBIA STUDENT SUSPENDED AFTER ALLEGED ‘FART SPRAY’ ATTACK DURING PRO-PALESTINIAN RALLY SUES SCHOOL

One student, who asked to be identified only with his first name, Josh, due to fears for his safety, told Fox News Digital that he could hear the protesters chanting anti-Israel slogans and beating drums well into the night.

A masked demonstrator stands guard at a locked gate on Columbia’s West Lawn, where dozens of students have set up tents as they demand the university take a number of anti-Israel measures amid a conflict between the country’s military and Hamas terrorists who attacked on Oct. 7, 2023. (Micheal Ruiz/Fox News Digital)

“The scariest thing I want to emphasize is that we’ve had no idea who has been in these camps,” he said. “I’ve watched, while walking home at night, people climbing over the fence, smuggling stuff in through side doors.” He said some of the people he saw resembled a student he believed had been suspended in connection with the demonstrations.

ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS AT COLUMBIA ISSUE DEFIANT ULTIMATUM

He also played cellphone video taken over the weekend showing a group of anti-Israel agitators calling a pair of Jewish students “Zionists” and surrounding them because they were wearing Star of David necklaces.

Multiple people who said they were authorized to speak on behalf of the Columbia encampment declined to speak with Fox News Digital.

Anti-Israel agitators relax inside an encampment set up on the West Lawn at Columbia University in New York City on April 25, 2024. A group of radical demonstrators broke into the school’s Hamilton Hall early Tuesday and barricaded themselves inside. (Micheal Ruiz/Fox News Digital)

“I’ve had a friend who was beaten up,” said Itai Driefuss, a third-year Columbia undergrad and Israeli military veteran from Tel Aviv. “It’s scary. It’s violent.”

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and saw more than 200 kidnapped and held hostage. Israel’s military response is still underway and has killed thousands.

Earlier this month, another Israeli military veteran who attends Columbia filed a lawsuit accusing the school of harshly punishing him for using “fart spray” on anti-Israel activists while turning a blind eye to their antisemitic rhetoric.

Fox News’ Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.

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Northeast

NYC mayor ripped by immigration activists over ‘racist’ claim that migrants make ‘excellent swimmers’

Published

35 mins ago

May 17, 2024

Press Room

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is taking fire from immigration activists over what they say is a “racist” comment about migrants being suitable to fill a shortage of lifeguards as they are “excellent swimmers” — but the mayor’s office claims they are missing the point.

“New Yorkers are looking to Mayor Eric Adams to unite our City, not foment more division. His comments on asylum seekers being ‘excellent swimmers’ implies that because some immigrants had to swim or wade across water on their dangerous journeys to seek safety in the United States, that they would make good lifeguards,” Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition said in a statement.

“This comment is racist, and the Mayor should not be making light of the perilous and often life-threatening journeys people are forced to make to escape violence and persecution,” he added. “It’s demeaning and dehumanizing.”

‘EXCELLENT SWIMMERS’: DEM MAYOR FLOATS MIGRANTS AS SOLUTION FOR CITY’S LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE

Awawdeh was reacting to comments Adams made Tuesday when he was asked at a press conference about a lifeguard shortage in the city as Memorial Day approaches.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks to reporters on Oct. 12, 2023. (New York City )

He said the situation could be helped “If we had a migrant and asylum seeker plan that states those jobs that we are… in high demand we could expedite.”

“How do we have a large body of people that are in our city, and country, that are excellent swimmers and, at the same time, we need lifeguards — and the only obstacle is that we won’t give them the right to work to become a lifeguard,” he said.

“That just doesn’t make sense.”

He listed off other occupations, including food service workers and nurses, where the Big Apple could face shortages.

Migrants camp out in front of the Watson Hotel after being evicted, on February 01, 2023 in New York City. (Leonardo Munoz/VIEWpres)

“We have all these eligible people waiting to work with the skills we need to fill the jobs, but we are unable to allow them to work because bureaucracy is in the way,” he said. “That just does not make sense.”

The comments drew surprise from conservatives as well as activists, with them viewing the comment as a gaffe. But Adams has repeatedly called for the expediting of work permits to allow those in the country claiming asylum to be able to work.

The mayor’s office pushed back against the criticism in a statement on Wednesday.

DEM MAYOR FACES BACKLASH FOR CITY’S ‘HAPHAZARD’ MIGRANT POLICY: ‘CRUELTY’

“With more than 197,000 migrants who have come through our care since the spring of 2022, Mayor Adams has been clear that there is nothing more un-American than not allowing someone to work,” a city hall spokesperson said.

“The mayor has repeatedly pointed out that there are people in our shelter system right now who are qualified for vacant city jobs — in industries such as food service, construction, manufacturing, lifeguarding, and more — and yet, we cannot hire them because the federal government has not issued them work authorization and the right to work,” they said. “Anyone who is trying to make more out of the mayor continuing to make that point today is missing the forest for the trees.”

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

His office also pointed to multiple instances this year where Adams has called for migrants to be given the ability to work — including as lifeguards.

“We need everything from lifeguards to workers in the racing industry to food service workers,” Adams said earlier this month on FOX5 “Good Day New York.” “It’s really ironic that when we need so many employees across the country, where states and cities are seeing a drop in population, I think that when people are paroled legally into the country, we should designate where they go based on the needs of the country and allow them to work there for three years, and then allow them to go anywhere in the country.”

Adams has also called for a national resettlement strategy and additional funding from the federal government.

Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from the Fox News Digital immigration hub.

Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.

He can be reached at adam.shaw2@fox.com or on Twitter.

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Boston, MA

2024 NBA playoffs bracket, schedule, scores, results: Timberwolves blow out Nuggets, force Game 7

Published

2 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Press Room

2024 NBA playoffs bracket, schedule, scores, results: Timberwolves blow out Nuggets, force Game 7

The Minnesota Timberwolves forced Game 7 against the reigning champion Denver Nuggets with a 45-point blowout in Game 6 on Thursday night. The Wolves bounced back after losing three games in a row, and the second round will see at least one Game 7. It could see as many as three. The New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks are both up 3-2 in their respective series against the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, and they’ll try to close things out this weekend.

The Boston Celtics became the first team to punch their ticket to the conference finals in the 2024 NBA playoffs. The Celtics ousted the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night with a Game 5 win. The victory moved Boston to the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth time in the last eight years and the third year in a row. The Celtics will face either the Knicks or the Pacers in the next round, starting on Tuesday.

The postseason field started with 20 teams, and now we’re down to seven. The Warriors, Kings, Hawks and Bulls were ousted in the Play-In Tournament before the Pelicans, Suns, Clippers, Lakers, Heat, 76ers, Bucks and Magic were eliminated in the first round. And now the Cavs have been sent home in the second round.

Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule, as well as all the playoff scores. All games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBA TV are streaming on fubo (try for free).

Thursday’s playoff scores:

Game 6: Timberwolves 115, Nuggets 70

Below is a look at the complete playoff bracket.

2024 NBA playoff bracket

Kim O’Reilly, CBS Sports

Upcoming NBA playoffs schedule

(All times Eastern)

Friday, May 17
Game 6: Pacers vs. Knicks, 8:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Saturday, May 18
Game 6: Mavericks vs. Thunder, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Sunday, May 19
Game 7*: Knicks vs. Pacers, 3:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
Game 7: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, TBD

Monday, May 20
Game 7*: Thunder vs. Mavericks, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Tuesday, May 21
Game 1: Celtics vs. TBD, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Wednesday, May 22
Game 1: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Thursday, May 23
Game 2: Celtics vs. TBD, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Friday, May 24
Game 2: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Saturday, May 25
Game 3: TBD vs. Celtics, 8:30 p.m., ABC/fubo

Sunday, May 26
Game 3: Western Conference finals, 8 p.m., TNT

Monday, May 27
Game 4: TBD vs. Celtics, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Tuesday, May 28
Game 4: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Wednesday, May 29
Game 5*: Celtics vs. TBD, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Thursday, May 30
Game 5*: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Friday, May 31
Game 6*: TBD vs. Celtics, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Saturday, June 1
Game 6*: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Sunday, June 2
Game 7*: Celtics vs. TBD, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Monday, June 3
Game 7*: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

NBA playoffs: Second-round scores

Celtics vs. Cavaliers
Game 1: Celtics 120, Cavaliers 95
Game 2: Cavaliers 118, Celtics 94
Game 3: Celtics 106, Cavaliers 93
Game 4: Celtics 109, Cavaliers 102
Game 5: Celtics 113, Cavaliers 98
(Boston wins series 4-1)

Knicks vs. Pacers
Game 1: Knicks 121, Pacers 117
Game 2: Knicks 130, Pacers 121
Game 3: Pacers 111, Knicks 106
Game 4: Pacers 121, Knicks 89
Game 5: Knicks 121, Pacers 91

Thunder vs. Mavericks
Game 1: Thunder 117, Mavericks 95
Game 2: Mavericks 119, Thunder 110
Game 3: Mavericks 105, Thunder 101
Game 4: Thunder 100, Mavericks 96
Game 5: Mavericks 104, Thunder 92

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves
Game 1: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 99
Game 2: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 80
Game 3: Nuggets 117, Timberwolves 90
Game 4: Nuggets 115, Timberwolves 107
Game 5: Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 97
Game 6: Timberwolves 115, Nuggets 70

NBA playoffs: First-round scores

Celtics vs. Heat
Game 1: Celtics 114, Heat 94
Game 2: Heat 111, Celtics 101
Game 3: Celtics 104, Heat 84
Game 4: Celtics 102, Heat 88
Game 5: Celtics 118, Heat 84
(Boston wins series 4-1)

Knicks vs. 76ers
Game 1: Knicks 111, 76ers 104
Game 2: Knicks 104, 76ers 101
Game 3: 76ers 125, Knicks 114
Game 4: Knicks 97, 76ers 92
Game 5: 76ers 112, Knicks 106 (OT)
Game 6: Knicks 118, 76ers 115
(Knicks win series 4-2)

Bucks vs. Pacers
Game 1: Bucks 109, Pacers 94
Game 2: Pacers 125, Bucks 108
Game 3: Pacers 121, Bucks 118 (OT)
Game 4: Pacers 126, Bucks 113
Game 5: Bucks 115, Pacers 92
Game 6: Pacers 120, Bucks 98
(Indiana wins series 4-2)

Cavaliers vs. Magic
Game 1: Cavaliers 97, Magic 83
Game 2: Cavaliers 96, Magic 86
Game 3: Magic 121, Cavaliers 83
Game 4: Magic 112, Cavaliers 89
Game 5: Cavaliers 104, Magic 103
Game 6: Magic 103, Cavaliers 96
Game 7: Cavaliers 106, Magic 94
(Cleveland wins series 4-3)

Thunder vs. Pelicans
Game 1: Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
Game 2: Thunder 124, Pelicans 92
Game 3: Thunder 106, Pelicans 85
Game 4: Thunder 97, Pelicans 89
(Oklahoma City wins series 4-0)

Nuggets vs. Lakers
Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
Game 3: Nuggets 112, Lakers 105
Game 4: Lakers 119, Nuggets 108
Game 5: Nuggets 108, Lakers 106
(Denver wins series 4-1)

Timberwolves vs. Suns
Game 1: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
Game 2: Timberwolves 105, Suns 93
Game 3: Timberwolves 126, Suns 109
Game 4: Timberwolves 122, Suns 116
(Minnesota wins series 4-0)

Clippers vs. Mavericks
Game 1: Clippers 109, Mavericks 97
Game 2: Mavericks 96, Clippers 93
Game 3: Mavericks 101, Clippers 90
Game 4: Clippers 116, Mavericks 111
Game 5: Mavericks 123, Clippers 93
Game 6: Mavericks 114, Clippers 101
(Dallas wins series 4-2)

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