NYPD Chief Responds to AOC’s Criticisms of Columbia Situation

The chief of patrol for the New York City Police Department pushed back against criticism from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., after officers from an anti-terrorism squad were called to a demonstration at Columbia University.

Tents were set up by protesters on April 17, the same day Columbia’s President Minouche Shafik faced questions about on-campus antisemitism.

The demonstrations have grown and inspired similar actions at universities nationwide.

“Truly amazing! Columbia decided to hold its students accountable to the laws of the school,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell wrote on X. “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.”

Ocasio-Cortez posted a video of officers outside the university questioning their presence.

Chell defended the officers’ actions, stating they removed students with care and professionalism.

He criticized Ocasio-Cortez for her comments and emphasized the importance of respecting law enforcement.

The video showed officers standing outside the university near the protesters.

“Everyone has a Constitutional right to protest, it’s one of the pillars our great democracy is built on,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry later wrote on X.

Protests related to Israel’s war in Gaza have spread across the country, leading to clashes between police and student demonstrators at various universities.