The 11th hour with Stephanie Ruhle starts now. We are covering Breaking News this evening. At Columbia University here in manhattan where protest against the israelhamas war in gaza have been underway for several days, just after 9 00 p. M. Eastern, the new York City Police department breached Hamilton Hall using a truck with a ramp. That happened almost 24 hours after protesters broke into the building and occupied it. The nypd says Hamilton Hall is now cleared, and so is the Tent Encampment on the south lawn of the campus. An nypd spokesperson spoke to nbc news shortly after the officers went in. The buildings were blocked by Soda Machines, plywood, so there were lures the nypd used. We use a Distraction Device that makes a very loud bang. Its a Distraction Device. It makes a loud noise that allowed officers to get enough time to get through the barricades. Columbia university formally requested Law Enforcement help earlier this evening. The weekslong demonstration escalated after ne
Been underway for several days. Just after 9 00 p. M. Eastern the new York City Police department breached Hamilton Hall using a truck with a ramp. That happened almost 24 hours after protesters broke into the building and occupied it. The nypd says Hamilton Hall is now cleared and so is the Tent Encampment on the south lawn of the campus. An nypd spokesperson spoke to nbc news shortly after the officers went in. The building was very heavily fortified. Doorways were blocked by Soda Machines, couches, plywood. So there were rumors that the nypd used tear gas. The nypd does not use tear gas. We use a Distraction Device. It is a device that is thrown and makes a loud bang. A stun grenade. It is a Distraction Device that makes a loud noise. That allowed officers time to get through the barricades. Columbia university formally requested Law Enforcement help earlier this evening. The weeks long negotiation broke down. Columbia released a statement saying the following. Quote, the decision t