Police begin clearing occupied building at Columbia University, arrest protesters
New York City police officers were called in to Columbia University on Tuesday evening to disperse a protest staged by pro-Palestinian students. The demonstrators had taken over Hamilton Hall 12 hours earlier amid campus protests that have been going on for two weeks over the Israel-Gaza war. Approximately 50 detainees were observed being loaded onto a bus, their hands secured behind them with zip ties, The Guardian reported.
Why does this story matter?
Columbia's protests earlier this month sparked demonstrations that have spread from California to Massachusetts. Students from colleges around the United States have congregated in protest encampments with a unified demand: Stop doing business with Israel—or any corporations that support its ongoing conflict in Gaza. Over the last two weeks, over 1,000 protestors have been arrested on campuses in places such as Texas, Utah, Virginia, North Carolina, New Mexico, Connecticut, Louisiana, California, and New Jersey, following clashes with police.
Suspensions began early Monday evening
Columbia authorities summoned the NYPD after pro-Palestinian demonstrators failed to comply with school leadership's Monday ultimatum to leave their encampment or face suspension. According to the university, suspensions began early Monday evening. Columbia University administrators had threatened to expel the students who had taken Hamilton Hall, an eight-story neoclassical building surrounded by demonstrators who formed a barricade and screamed pro-Palestinian slogans.
University refuses to yield to protesters' demands
The ultimatum was issued after the university's president, Minouche Shafik, revealed that attempts to reach an agreement with protest organizers had failed. "We made it very clear [on Monday] that the work of the university cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules," a Columbia spokesperson, Ben Chang, said. Despite the warning, demonstrators have chosen to escalate to an untenable situation by vandalizing property, damaging doors and windows, and blocking entrances, Chang added.
Hamilton Hall occupied, renamed in honor of Palestinian girl
Hamilton Hall was one of several buildings on campus that were occupied during the 1968 civil rights and anti-Vietnam War protests. Inside the hall, student protesters displayed a large banner renaming it "Hind's Hall" in honor of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl from Gaza City killed by Israeli forces earlier this year. President Joe Biden believes that students occupying an academic building is completely inappropriate and not an example of peaceful protest, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.
