Police Arrest Protesters at Columbia University Amid Gaza War Protests, Trump Fined in Sex Scandal Case

It’s ‘America Now’ time, bringing you vibrant American news.

Host) What’s the news today?

Reporter) Police entered Columbia University, where protests against the Gaza war were increasing, and arrested protesters who were in a building on campus. Former President Donald Trump, who is currently facing criminal charges for sexual harassment, was fined $9,000 for violating the gag order.

Host) America Now, this is the first news. Police have been sent to Columbia University, where tensions are increasing due to protests against the Gaza war.

Narrator) That’s right. After sitting in the outdoor tent, the New York police forcefully arrested the protesters who had occupied the campus building. On the night of April 30, New York police officers in tactical gear entered the Columbia University campus.

Host) Aren’t the protesters holding a sit-in demonstration as they block the entrance to the building?

Narrator) That’s right. Therefore, the police used a ladder truck to enter the building through a window on the second floor of Hamilton Hall, which was occupied by protesters. The police were also sent to the scene of the protest outside the tent. After that, dozens of people were taken into custody with their hands tied and put on board a police bus.

Host) Was the police sent in at the request of the university?

Reporter) Yes, the university said, “As soon as we found out that people were living in Hamilton Hall, damaged and blocked overnight, we had no other choice. “It was in response to the actions of the protesters that we asked for assistance from the New York Police Department,” he said, “We have made it clear that protesters who break our rules and laws cannot to be infinitely disturbed.

Host) Why did students live in Hamilton Hall?

Reporter) The university previously requested that the protesters disperse the tent outside before 2pm on the 29th of last month. They warned that if they refuse, they will be banned from school. But the protesters refused. The university took steps to suspend the protesting students. Then, the protesters suddenly entered Hamilton Hall on campus early in the morning of the 30th and announced that they would not leave until the school accepted their demands. In response, the school warned that students living in the building would be expelled. After that, police forces were deployed.

Host) Columbia University has tried in the past to disperse protesters with the help of police, correct?

Reporter) Yes, Columbia University President Nemat Shafik asked the police to disperse the protesters who refused the withdrawal request on the 18th of last month. The police arrested more than 100 protesters. However, the students’ backlash became stronger due to the police crackdown. Solidarity sit-ins began at several universities across the United States. President Shafik asked the New York Police to remain on campus until the graduation ceremony ends on May 17 to help clean up the protest site and maintain order.

Host) The mayor of New York also talked about the Columbia event, right?

Reporter) Yes, New York Mayor Eric Adams said in a briefing with New York police officers that the work of the protesters in Hamilton Hall was caused by ‘outside agitators.’ Mayor Adams said that peaceful protesters who support Palestine are being hijacked by people who have “nothing to do with Columbia University” and people with ulterior motives. He continued, “They are not here to promote peace or unity or to speak as one peaceful voice, but to promote discord and division.”

Host) There must be a basis for the New York authorities to make this decision, right?

Narrator) Yes, the police gave evidence based on blocking the entrance using iron barricades and damaged security cameras. The Columbia University Coalition to End Apartheid (CUAD), the organizer of the Columbia University protest, has not commented on these claims.

Host) What is the situation with complaints at other universities?

Reporter) At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the western part of the United States, there was a physical confrontation between Palestinian support activists and Israeli supporters early in the morning of the 1st. The two sides pushed and kicked each other, and even threw chairs and iron barricades at the other side.

Host) How did this violence happen?

Reporter) The Daily Bruin, UCLA’s academic newspaper, reported that the clash occurred when supporters of Israel attempted to dismantle an anti-Palestinian protest camp on campus. So, the police in riot gear arrived at the scene. Jack Seidl, a spokesman for the Los Angeles mayor’s office, told social media

Host) University districts, both in the east and west of the American continent, are very noisy with protests against the war in Gaza.

Narrator) There are also schools where activists have dispersed. At Brown University in the eastern part of the United States, protesters dispersed on the 30th after reaching a settlement with the school. Both sides agreed to hold a vote in October on ending the university’s investment in Israel-related companies, rather than allowing activists to disperse. The Associated Press reported that this was the first time the university had agreed to remove a vote from activists. Although the demands of pro-Palestinian activists vary slightly from school to school, most want universities to divest their investments in Israel-related businesses and grant amnesty to students and faculty who participated in the protests.

Former US President Donald Trump appeared at the Manhattan District Court in New York on the 30th.

Host) America Now, this time we will look at news related to the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump.

Reporter) Yes, former President Trump is currently on trial in Manhattan District Court in New York for keeping quiet about a sex scandal. I was fined for disobeying the judge’s order not to harm people involved in the trial. Manhattan District Court Judge Juan Mercan, who is presiding over the trial, fined former President Trump $9,000 on April 30, saying he had repeatedly violated the gag order he had placed on him. – out

Host) Why did Judge Merchan make this decision?

Reporter) Judge Merchan said he knew the accused, former President Trump, had a First Amendment right to freedom of expression, and that he was protecting it, but he said, “Continuous and deliberate breaches of legal orders cannot be tolerated.” Judge Merchan also warned that he could be jailed if he continues to defy the gag order.

Host) Isn’t the gag order directly related to former President Trump’s sex scandal hush-hush lawsuit? But why was the court’s decision to issue the gag order?

Reporter) This is because the New York prosecutors who took care of former President Trump were questioning former President Trump’s violation of the gag order. Judge Merchan previously ordered former President Trump to refrain from criticizing witnesses, prosecutors, lawyers, jurors and their families related to this trial . However, on the 23rd of last month, prosecutors asked Judge Merchan to impose a fine of $1,000 on each account, claiming that former President Trump violated the silence order at least 10 trips.

Host) And Judge Merchan accepted the prosecution’s argument?

Narrator) That’s right. Judge Merchan fined former President Trump and ordered him to take down nine posts attacking witnesses and jurors on social media. After that, former President Trump deleted the related post.

Host) Didn’t former President Trump express dissatisfaction with the silence order?

Reporter) Yes, former President Trump has repeatedly argued that the court’s silence order violates the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution. Trump’s lawyer protested, saying, “Former President Trump did not threaten anyone, but was merely responding to a political attack.” However, Judge Merchan pointed out that former President Trump’s argument was “incoherent and absurd.”

Host) What are the accusations against former President Trump to satisfy the sex scandal?

Reporter) Just before the 2016 presidential election, former President Trump paid ‘hush money’ to former adult film star Stormy Daniels, who he claimed had sexual contact with, through the His personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to prevent disclosures, was accused of handling company records of the ‘Trump Group’, run by the family of former President Trump. There are a total of 34 charges against former President Trump. However, former President Trump denies all the allegations against him.

Host) The combined test started in the middle of April, right?

Narrator) Yes, the trial began on April 15, so it is now in its third week. At the hearing on the 30th, Gary Faro appeared as a witness. Mr. Faro is the banker involved in opening the account through which Attorney General Cohen paid Mr. Daniels.

Host) Former President Trump is still serving the trial as a defendant, correct?

Reporter) Yes, former President Trump must attend the trial four days a week, except Wednesday. However, Judge Merchan announced that he would adjourn the 17th to accommodate former President Trump’s request to be able to attend his youngest son Barron’s high school graduation ceremony.

Host) Doesn’t former President Trump need to put together this test schedule and campaign ahead of the November presidential election?

Narrator) That’s right. After leaving the courtroom on the 30th, former President Trump said that Judge Merchan was biased against him and that the trial was hindering his campaign. Former President Trump also began fundraising by sending an email to his supporters, saying, “A liberal judge silenced me.” On the 1st, when there is no trial, former President Trump will visit the battleground states of Wisconsin and Michigan for a campaign.

Host) America Now, let’s listen to this today.