Alvin Bragg Lands in the Middle of a Powder Keg

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has found himself at the center of another high-profile legal battle after hundreds of pro-Palestinian campus protesters were arrested in New York City this week.

On Tuesday, nearly 300 people were arrested at Columbia University and the City College of New York in connection with pro-Palestinian protests. Bragg's office is tasked with handling any prosecutions because the arrests occurred in Manhattan. He is already leading the first criminal prosecution of Donald Trump that has gone to trial. The case concerns a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has denied business fraud charges related to the payment as well as Daniels' allegation of an affair.

In recent weeks, higher education institutions have found themselves embroiled in a domestic debate over the war between Israel and the Palestinian organization Hamas. Students have led protests against Israel's actions after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, raising concerns about the number of Palestinian civilians killed in the Gaza Strip during Israel's military offensive there.

Approximately 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage during Hamas' attack on southern Israel last fall. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, the Associated Press reports, citing the Gaza Health Ministry, while more than 80 percent of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced.

The protests across the country have dominated the news and divided Americans. Critics have concerns about some instances of violence in recent days, while Jewish leaders say some demonstrations have involved antisemitism. Supporters of the protesters say they have a First Amendment right to free speech and argue that Israel has gone too far in its Gaza offensive.

On Friday, Bragg's office told Newsweek that 74 people have been arraigned on formal charges following the arrests on Tuesday. Police arrested 46 people at Columbia University, all of whom were charged with criminal trespass in the third degree.

Meanwhile, 28 people were arraigned after arrests at the City College of New York. Of those 22 were arraigned on charges of burglary in the third degree and obstructing governmental administration and were released.

Five others were arraigned for assault in the second degree and were "released on their own recognizance." One other was arraigned on a separate misdemeanor charge for criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and other charges.

Bragg is already facing pressure about how he should approach the cases. Joe Borelli, a New York City Council member, told local media outlet City & State that the DA should prosecute most of those arrested.

"If the DA doesn't prosecute the bulk of those arrested then the entire negotiation with the campus administration, the entire police enforcement action and all the national attention on this matter has been an absolute waste of time," he said.

Meanwhile, the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America wrote in a post to X (Twitter): "Campuses are for learning, NOT battlegrounds. Arresting students & allies disrupt education. Email & call NYC reps to urge the DA to grant full amnesty, end lockdowns, & meet student demands to divest from Israeli apartheid."