Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the New York City area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.
NYPD cops take down Palestinian flag, put up American flag at City Collge: video
NEW YORK (PIX11) --- NYPD officers were seen ripping down a Palestinian flag off a flagpole after clearing protesters from the City College campus in Harlem Tuesday night, according to an NYPD video released on social media.
The footage shows cops taking the flag down and throwing it on the ground before replacing it with the American flag on the campus flagpole, according to the video posted by NYPD Chief of Operations Kaz Doughtry.
Doughtry and Tarrik Sheppard, NYPD’s deputy commissioner for public information, were then seen posing in front of the U.S. flag before Sheppard threw up a peace sign.
"An incredible scene and proud moment as we have assisted @CityCollegeNY in restoring order on campus, culminating in raising Old Glory once again on their campus flagpole," Doughtry said in the X post.
Mayor Eric Adams was also disgusted with another country's flag flying on New York City buildings, saying it peeved him because his uncle died defending America.
"It's despicable that schools will allow another country's flag to fly in our country. So blame me for being proud to be an American," Adams said during a press briefing Wednesday.
Approximately 300 people were detained during demonstrations at Columbia University and City College Tuesday night, according to the NYPD. Around 109 arrests were made at Columbia and 173 at City College.
Officials referred to the protesters who were not affiliated with the schools as "outside agitators."
“Young people are being influenced by those who are professionals at radicalizing our children,” Adams said. “And I’m not going to allow that to happen as the mayor of New York.”