Thread by @emm_mateo

I live by Columbia. Tonight I went for a walk & saw 10+ blocks rapidly barricaded, dozens of police vehicles flying by, large groups of NYPD in riot gear gathering.
I study protest in E Europe. What I saw tonight was some of the most wildly disproportionate policing I've seen
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The whole neighbourhood shut down, barricades & checkpoints everywhere, people blocked from going home. Hundreds of NYPD officers. Paramedics in flak jackets, firefighters in riot gear. A wave of riot police coming at peaceful bystanders, ordering dispersal or risk of arrest
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There was minimal protest action tonight other than the student occupation of Hamilton hall. CU asked NYPD to help 'take back' the campus. Armed riot police eventually entered via a second floor window on whatever this giant vehicle is. Others apparently moved in via the doors
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Meanwhile students locked down in dorms, others blocked from going home. CU Administration gave 0 info other than an order to stay in place or risk punishment. All for our own 'safety' - ironic given we were blocked from homes by armed police (had to show my lease to get in)
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The main danger to our community tonight was the huge armed police presence requested on campus by admin - not protesters. A wholly disproportionate response that provoked disruption, fear & frustration across the whole wider community, not just Columbia.
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100s of police deployed to arrest 50+ occupying students. Once again CU Administration escalated the situation & put many in danger. Thankfully it seems there were no injuries - I feared the worst. I don't know where CU goes from here but fear it's a long road to rebuild trust
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A huge well done to the amazing student journalists @WKCRFM radio for keeping the community informed amidst the chaos, and sharing info about the protests when there was a clear effort to keep people away from what was happening.
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8/ All photos etc here are mine, taken a few blocks from my home. I know a lot of tonight will get lost in a swirl of misinformation - I hope this is at least useful to folks who know/trust me, as a first-hand account of some of what unfolded.