As Expected, Alvin Bragg's Office Drops Charges Against Columbia University Trespassers

When Columbia students took over Hamilton Hall at the end of April, it seemed the university was finally getting tired of their antics. A spokesman for the school warned that there would be consequences, specifically expulsion.

We made it very clear yesterday that the work of the University cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules. 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.
Students occupying the building face expulsion.

And that wasn't all. Later that night, Columbia called in the NYPD who wound up arresting 48 people who had barricaded themselves in the building. One of the things I said at the time was that the school had a chance to bring the chaos to an end by making sure there were consequences.

This will restore order to the campus if Columbia follows through on expelling everyone who was arrested tonight. Ban them from campus and don't let them back in until after graduation. On top of that, they should face charges of trespassing, vandalism, etc. If there are no consequences, they will go right back to this again tomorrow.

Here we are nearly two months later and we're now learning that there will be no legal consequences for most, if not all, of the trespassers and vandals.

Nearly all of the people who were arrested inside Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall last month had their cases dropped Thursday.
Of the 46 people charged with trespassing in connection with the building’s occupation, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office dismissed cases against 31 people largely due to a lack of evidence. Prosecutors told 14 others that their cases would be dropped if they avoid being arrested in the next six months, but those defendants rejected that offer and will be due back in court on July 25...
The prosecutor said it would have been “extremely difficult” to prove the dismissed cases because the district attorney’s office lacks evidence, including surveillance footage from cameras that were covered up. The fact that some of the defendants wore masks also made it difficult to identify their specific actions.

We made it very clear yesterday that the work of the University cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules. 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.
Students occupying the building face expulsion.

This will restore order to the campus if Columbia follows through on expelling everyone who was arrested tonight. Ban them from campus and don't let them back in until after graduation. On top of that, they should face charges of trespassing, vandalism, etc. If there are no consequences, they will go right back to this again tomorrow.

Here we are nearly two months later and we're now learning that there will be no legal consequences for most, if not all, of the trespassers and vandals.

Nearly all of the people who were arrested inside Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall last month had their cases dropped Thursday.
Of the 46 people charged with trespassing in connection with the building’s occupation, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office dismissed cases against 31 people largely due to a lack of evidence. Prosecutors told 14 others that their cases would be dropped if they avoid being arrested in the next six months, but those defendants rejected that offer and will be due back in court on July 25...
The prosecutor said it would have been “extremely difficult” to prove the dismissed cases because the district attorney’s office lacks evidence, including surveillance footage from cameras that were covered up. The fact that some of the defendants wore masks also made it difficult to identify their specific actions.

Those Black Bloc tactics work which is why leftist criminals planning to break the law use them. In theory, someone who was there could testify about what happened, but so long as there is not one honest person in the group, prosecutors can't prove who did what. Or at least, it makes it easier to claim they can't prosecute cases that Alvin Bragg's office surely didn't want to prosecute anyway. Everyone is off the hook thanks to vandalism and those stupid face scarves.

All 31 of the people who had their cases dropped today were students or staff at Columbia. The other 14 who refused to have their cases dismissed included 2 students and 12 people with no connection to the school. They will get a pass too. It's just a matter of time.

Supposedly, Columbia is still moving forward with internal consequences for the people involved:

During the court appearances Thursday afternoon, a prosecutor said the defendants do not have criminal histories and that they will face internal disciplinary proceedings at Columbia.
A Columbia University official said the disciplinary process is ongoing but declined to comment further.

Will any of them be expelled? I'm betting they won't be. At worst they'll get some kind of pointless summer suspension which will ultimately cost them nothing at all. I'd love to be proven wrong about that but we've seen this play out so many times. The progressives in authority at these schools will briefly talk tough but then a few weeks later we learn it was all for the cameras. As soon as no one is looking, they go right back to coddling these adults, sending a clear message that no leftist extremism is ever punished.

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