(NewsNation) — Prosecutors have dismissed charges against dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters who were arrested in April, citing a lack of evidence.
As a wave of pro-Palestine protests swept across college campuses in spring, 46 people were arrested after the takeover of Hamilton Hall on Columbia University’s campus.
Now, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has dropped charges against 30 of those who were arrested.
Sixteen of the protesters were offered a plea deal, which they refused. They are due back in court in July.
One reason the charges were dropped is because prosecutors say there isn’t enough evidence to move forward.
Video from April 29, 2024, showed protesters storming Columbia’s Hamilton Hall, breaking windows and barricading themselves inside the building. They flew the Palestinian flag from the roof, but prosecutors said they covered the video camera during the protest, which is why they are not continuing with the charges.
Columbia student Jessica Schwalb filmed the protest.
“Last night, I witnessed things that I never thought could occur on Columbia’s campus, such as the bashing in of those windows, the barricading of doors with very heavy metal tables,” she said the day after the takeover.
The takeover was the culmination of weeks of protesters occupying the law at Columbia University. Twenty hours later, police in full riot gear stormed the building and arrested 46 protesters, charging them with criminal trespass and other charges.
The NYPD confirmed that 29% of those arrested were not students but outside agitators. Now, charges for 30 of those people have been dropped.
Bragg and his team said the decision was based on prosecutorial discretion and lack of evidence. One of the people the NYPD described as a professional agitator is still facing charges and is due back in court next month.
Neither Columbia nor the NYPD have issued an official response to the decision. But NYPD sources told NewsNation they are not happy with the decision and say it’s part of a pattern from the district attorney.
For those whose charges were dropped, the legal case is over. Their records will be expunged and court proceedings sealed. Those who are still facing charges will appear back in court in July.