NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Episode Date: May 2, 2024

More protests and crackdowns on campuses nationwide; Arizona Senate votes to repeal restrictive abortion ban; Deadly, destructive tornado rips through Kansas town; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight the tensions on campus is boiling over from coast to coast. The violent clashes today at the University of Wisconsin. Just hours after police in New York stormed a building that had been taken over on the Columbia campus. NYPD arresting nearly 300 protesters across the city. The mayor blaming quote, outside agitators in California, UCLA, canceling classes today after violence erupted between dueling groups, our team on those campuses tonight. Also this evening, the terrifying moments, an active shooter at a middle school in Wisconsin. Officials saying the threat was neutralized

outside the building. The new storm threat across the central U.S. after another deadly tornado outbreak? We're tracking it. Arizona lawmakers voting to repeal the state's 1864 abortion ban. Why it will still be on the books for months. And in Florida, the six-week ban taking effect. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as the U.S. pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza. What he's telling us one-on-one tonight. New images of Harvey Weinstein in a wheelchair looking gaunt in his first court appearance since his New York rape conviction was overturned. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. After earlier appearing to struggle over the line between free speech and public safety,

a new resolve on some of the college campuses that have been at the center of protests over the conflict in Gaza. Nowhere more boldly than at New York City's Columbia University, where NYPD officers were called on by the university to breach a historic building that had been seized and barricaded by protesters and to shut down the protest encampments. Over 100 people were arrested. And there were violent clashes with protesters at the University of Wisconsin, where police also moved against encampments, even as new ones are appearing at campuses across the country.

While the police actions were unwelcome by protesters at UCLA, a very different story. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators there asking where were the police when they came under attack by pro-Israel activists. Erin McLaughlin starts our coverage. Tonight, police crackdowns continue on college campuses across the country. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, clashes. Four officers injured and dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested. We plan to be here until our demands are met, no matter what. While Jewish students say they also want their voices heard. We just wanted to show that we're here and that we're not scared.

At the University of Texas, Dallas, tense taken down. Meanwhile, Columbia University says it had no choice but to call the police. The police are making their way onto the campus. Dozens of officers. Overnight, more than 100 were arrested on campus. Police releasing this video with no audio, showing officers in riot gear taking back control of the historic Hamilton Hall and the encampment. I was terrified.

Student Mohamed Hameda says he was on campus during the raid to stand in solidarity with the protesters occupying the hall. Whatever happened to our peers who were inside Hamilton, many of whom we know and are friends with, we wanted to make sure that we record what happened. Hameda says police moved him and others into a dorm where he stayed for nearly three hours. What I personally saw mainly was the NYPD officers in our face and I saw students being dragged out of there in handcuffs. The blockade, the human chain that was outside of it being cleared. The encampment once full of protesters and tents now cleared. Today, University President

Manoush Shafiq explained why she called the police, saying the occupation of Hamilton Hall was destruction, not political speech, pointing to students who felt uncomfortable and unwelcome because of the disruption and anti-Semitic comments. Mayor Eric Adams says outside agitators co-opted the student protest. We saw individuals holding doors. We saw individuals doing training. They were not students. They did not belong on the property, and they have a long history of participating in this type of discourse. How many of those individuals were students, and how many of those individuals were so-called outside agitators? That's the analysis that's taking place right now.

Today off campus, faculty protested the police intervention, pointing to the police crackdown on the same hall in 1968. It's clear that shared governance, meaning the capacity of faculty, students and staff to interact with senior administration, to come to resolutions of difficult problems is the lesson learned from 1968. That lesson was lost yesterday. And Erin joins us from Columbia University. Erin, we're hearing about potential police activity at nearby Fordham University in New York. That's right, Lester. Moments ago, the NYPD said that university has also requested their

assistance on campus to disperse protesters and that arrests will begin there imminently. Lester. Erin McLaughlin, thank you. Across the country, the protests turned violent at UCLA, highlighting the issues that so many colleges have been struggling with since the protests began. Liz Kreutz is in Los Angeles. At UCLA, tensions between protesters boiling over as counter protesters some in mass storm the pro palestinian encampment overnight violence erupting videos show protesters fighting some being pepper sprayed and fireworks thrown into the encampment

eventually police and riot gear arrived but made no arrests things have now calmed down here police were able to come and break up the fights between protesters, but there's a heavy police presence still here and a lot of tension on campus. As protesters spend their seventh day camped out, some students saying their rights to move freely around campus have been infringed. I have my ID right here. I'm being blocked off. Outspoken pro-Israel student Eli Sivas posted this video of what he says were protesters not allowing him to access a pathway near the encampment. They created their own checkpoint at this entrance. And I saw this and I said, no, no, no, absolutely not. This is public land. I pay tuition here. I deserve to walk this path to class if I so choose to.

The incident condemned by the university, but sparking a debate about the balance between free speech, access at a public university, and safety on campus. Yama is a pro-Palestinian protester who says she was pepper sprayed overnight. They're saying that what we're doing is unlawful, but what I've seen in the encampment is that we are trying to be as peaceful and we are trying to ensure that everyone is safe and that our community members are protected in their right to protest. By an NBC News count, nearly 50 U.S. colleges and universities nationwide have encampments with students demanding their schools divest from Israel over the country's war in Gaza. Places like Yale, Indiana University and Arizona State.

Two schools, Brown and Northwestern, have reached preliminary agreements to de-escalate tensions. The unrest playing out in different ways on some campuses. This American flag at UNC put back in place and protected in part by a group of fraternity brothers after protesters had replaced it with a Palestinian flag. It's all part of a decades-long history of protests on college campuses helping to spark change over issues like the Vietnam War and South Africa's apartheid. But the right to protest has limitations. There's robust protection for First Amendment activities when it comes to speech, when it comes to expressive conduct. But there are limits, and one of those limits

obviously is violence. And Liz, joining us now from UCLA, where classes were canceled today. Liz, what comes next there? Well, Lester, there's still a heavy police presence here, but so far they've stayed away from this encampment. This, though, is the university yesterday called the encampment unlawful and began telling students they were going to have to leave. Just moments ago, though, protesters here held a press conference saying they will not leave until their demands are met. And, Lester, you might be able to see behind me, the students here are at the encampment fortifying it right now tonight.

Lester. All right, Liz Kreutz in Los Angeles, thank you. Many of the protesters are focused on the Israel-Hamas war as the U.S. works to bring about a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas. The secretary of state was in Israel today and spoke with our Andrea Mitchell. Thank you, Biden. Thank you, Lincoln. Today's secretary of state, Tony Blinken, trying to reassure distraught families of hostages still held by Hamas were protesting outside his hotel.

Please keep strong. Keep the faith. We will be with you every single day until we get this done. Lincoln then meeting for two and a half hours with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who's vowing an offensive against Hamas in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinian civilians are also taking refuge, with or without a deal on hostage talks now at a critical stage. If Netanyahu and Israel go into Rafah, there's no chance for a hostage deal or a ceasefire. Well, look, we're focused on the hostility.

I believe the Israeli government is as well. And that's, I think, evident from the fact that the proposal, the most recent proposal they put on the table, shows that they're willing to make big compromises in order to get a deal. Blinken blaming Hamas for not taking what he calls an extremely generous Israeli ceasefire offer, but saying the U.S. is opposed to an Israeli operation in Rafah without a plan to protect Gazans. A funeral today for two children killed in an Israeli raid. We've not seen such a plan. And there are also better ways to do what Israel needs to do in terms of dealing with the remaining Hamas problem.

U.S. officials believe Netanyahu is threatening to go into Rafah to keep his ultra-conservative coalition together. But at the same time, there is enormous public pressure on him here to get those hostages home. Lester. Andrea Mitchell in Israel. Thank you. In Wisconsin, a potential shooting at a middle school was averted after officials say a gunman was unable to get into the school and was stopped by police. Maura Barrett is there. Two shots fired. Rifle was observed. Tonight, an alleged assailant is neutralized after police responded to reports

of an active shooter outside at a Wisconsin middle school. Police responding to 911 calls around 11 a.m. The Mount Horeb School District enacting a full lockdown minutes later. School officials say the suspect was unable to breach the entryway of the school, preventing the gunman access to the students. As news spread, parents frantically trying to reach their children inside the school, preventing the gunmen access to the students. As news spread, parents frantically trying to reach their children inside the school. She finally answers and she's obviously bawling her eyes out. Getting that call and not knowing like, you know, are they going to make it? Is this going to be our last phone call? It's hard. Police releasing little information, but confirmed there were no reports of injuries or death outside of the suspect.

The incident unfolding during students' gym class and recess. Rollerblades left behind as kids ran after hearing gunshots. I've made it a point when I drop the kids off at school to say I love you because there's just a possibility that this would happen. The school district writing on Facebook, you would be so proud of our students and staff and we're so grateful for our first responders. Tonight, this small community of just 8,000 people shaken but relieved as students across the district are slowly reuniting with their families.

Lester. All right, Maura Barrett, thank you. In New York today, Harvey Weinstein appearing in court for the first time since his 2020 rape conviction was overturned last week. The former movie mogul looked gaunt and was seated in a wheelchair as prosecutors asked for a retrial in the fall. Weinstein remains in custody after a separate rape conviction in Los Angeles. Now to severe weather with millions at risk again tonight after more than a dozen reported tornadoes, including a deadly and destructive one in Kansas. Our Maggie

Vespa is there. Tonight, marking seven straight days of reported tornadoes decimating America's heartland, with one late today appearing to touch down in Texas. Oh my God, it's blowing people's houses away. Meanwhile, new images of storms overnight with twisters tearing across Kansas and hail hammering Missouri, leaving a patchwork trail of destruction that continues to grow. Robin Knobloch's home survived, but her niece's house was heavily damaged. Famous saying of the freight train, you could hear it in the wind. It was very loud. I fully expected our house to be gone the way it sounded. 13 tornadoes were reported overnight across Oklahoma and Kansas. Authorities in Westmoreland confirming one person was killed,

nearly two dozen homes destroyed. I was born here. Yep. I was raised here. My kids were raised here. It's the latest community caught in a broad sweep of violent weather, with more than 180 tornadoes reported since Thursday. At least six people killed, including a four-month-old girl. She was with her family inside their Oklahoma home Saturday when a tornado threw it 200 yards. The infant's mom telling NBC News, we are heartbroken. And tonight, the threat continues with 23 million Americans once again under severe weather threats, battering a swath of America already exhausted and weary of what's next. Is that looming in your mind? That's why we've been

working hard all day to try to gather what's salvageable. Maggie Vespa, NBC News, Westmoreland, Kansas. In 60 seconds, the battle over reproductive care, the major win for supporters of abortion rights in Arizona and where it just became more difficult to get access. Back now with the battle over abortion rights. Lawmakers in Arizona today repealing their state's 1864 abortion ban, while in Florida, strict new limits took effect, with a dramatic impact across the South. We get more from Laura Jarrett.

Tonight, lawmakers in a critical battleground state voting to repeal one of the strictest abortion bans in the country. With protesters clashing outside the Capitol. Inside, two Republicans broke ranks, joining the Democrats to repeal the 1864 law, which bans abortions in all cases except to save a mother's life. One hundred and sixty years later, life is precious. The Democratic governor is expected to sign the repeal, but that isn't enough to lift the state court's ban on abortion right away. Due to a morass of legislative rules and maneuvers, the ban will likely be in blanket nearly a dozen states, including Florida, where beginning today the procedure is banned for anyone further than

six weeks along, with exceptions including rape, incest and human trafficking up to 15 weeks. The impact will no doubt be catastrophic. Florida used to be a safe harbor for Southerners to access abortion. The impact of this ban will be felt not just in Florida, but across the Southeast. The vice president in Jacksonville today pinning the blame squarely on Donald Trump, who appointed three Supreme Court justices that helped bring it in to the constitutional right to an abortion. Trump says he wants to leave abortion up to the states. Today, one in three women of reproductive age live in a state with a Trump abortion ban. Dr. Shelley Tian, who provides abortions in both Arizona and Florida, says six weeks is before most patients even know they're pregnant.

It is essentially a near-complete abortion ban, and it is devastating. Scribbled on the wall at the clinic where she works, this note, traveled five hours because of laws in my state. We matter. Laura Jarrett, NBC News. There isn't much more to tell you about tonight. Coming up, the suspected ISIS member who crossed the border and lived freely in this country. How could it happen? Next. We're back with our NBC News report on the terror concerns at the U.S. border. We've learned a suspected ISIS member not only crossed into the U.S. illegally, he was also living here for quite some time before anyone realized it. Here's Julia Ainslie. Tonight, among the record wave of migrants crossing the southern border, a suspected ISIS member who lived freely in the U.S. for nearly Here's Julia Ainsley. apprehended and vetted by both Customs and Border Protection and ICE. He was not on the U.S. terror

watch list, and he was released into the U.S., those sources tell us. Then, in May 2023, Uzbekistan put out an international alert, saying that Atoyev was affiliated with ISIS and wanted there. But it took nearly a year for U.S. officials to figure out the suspected ISIS member was living freely here in the U.S. U.S. officials tell us DHS made the alarming discovery after reviewing Atoyev's application for asylum. Shortly after DHS connected the dots, ICE arrested him here in Baltimore just two weeks ago. Former Homeland Security officials tell us his case raises red flags about the vetting process for migrants after they cross the border. Should alarm bells be going off here? We are in the midst of a really volatile threat environment. Anytime I see a gap in a system like

we are seeing in this case, I do have concerns. Anytime you have just a massive volume of people like we do, our systems are overwhelmed and we need more resources at the southern border to properly protect the homeland. And it follows our exclusive report last month that a migrant U.S. official say was affiliated with an Afghan terror group across the border and was released into the U.S. because agents lacked information to connect him to the terror watch list. That man, Mohammed Harwin, was arrested hours after our report aired. The FBI director recently alerted Congress the agency is investigating whether ISIS has a hand in smuggling migrants across the southern border. There is a particular network that has,

where some of the overseas facilitators of the smuggling network have ISIS ties that we're very concerned about. Two U.S. officials tell NBC News DHS has not yet concluded that Atoyev is part of ISIS, but they are questioning him in detention. A DHS spokesperson tells us he remains in U.S. custody and there is no threat to public safety. Lester? That's nightly news for this Wednesday. Thanks for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.