District attorneys drop most charges against student protesters who inhabited Columbia University structure

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ

Associated Press

NEW YORK CITY-- Dozens of Columbia University trainees who were jailed for inhabiting a school structure as part of a pro-Palestinian demonstration will have their criminal charges dropped. At a hearing in Manhattan criminal court, district attorneys said they would not pursue criminal charges for 31 of the 46 people initially jailed for trespassing inside the administration structure. They cited a lack of proof tying them to particular residential or commercial property damage and the fact that the trainees did not have criminal records. A plea offer used to 13 others detained in the structure was turned down, according to a group representing protesters.