Anti-Israel protests have reached a boiling point at Columbia University, where pro-Palestinian protesters have barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall while briefly holding at least one university staff member hostage, according to the Columbia Spectator.
The protesters stormed the building early on Apr. 30 as part of broader demonstrations against Israel's military operations in Gaza, using metal gates to block the doors, positioning wooden tables and chairs as obstructions in front of entrances, and even securing some doors shut with zip ties. Hamilton Hall houses key administrative offices like the Columbia College Dean's Office, Admissions, and the Core Curriculum program.
Taking over Hamilton Hall as done in 1968, Columbia students unfurl a banner that reads "Hind's Hall," in reference to Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl killed by Israeli forces.
Hundreds of students cheer as the banner is revealed, erupting into chants to "Free Palestine." pic.twitter.com/Oi8WgdZmqf— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) April 30, 2024
The takeover of Hamilton Hall occurred nearly two weeks after University President Minouche Shafik gave approval for the New York Police Department to dismantle the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on Apr. 18. That police operation resulted in the largest mass arrest on campus since 1968, when over 80 people were arrested inside an occupied Hamilton Hall, with a total of over 700 students taken into custody.
Amidst the latest escalation, a university Facilities staff member, held inside Hamilton Hall against his will, managed to exit the building around 12:40 a.m. after confronting the occupying protesters in the Hamilton lobby and demanding they let him leave. As he departed, the worker struck someone's camera and shouted angrily at the crowd, saying "They held me hostage."
BREAKING: DOZENS OF PROTESTERS OCCUPY HAMILTON HALLhttps://t.co/h4Ni9oi2YJ
— Amira McKee (@_amiramckee) April 30, 2024
By nightfall, the crowd amassed outside Hamilton Hall had grown into the hundreds, chanting, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" and "Palestine will live forever," as protesters on the Hamilton balcony unfurled a new banner bearing the words "Hind's Hall" - a reference to 6-year-old Hind Rajab, who was allegedly killed by Israeli military forces in Gaza. "We will honor all the martyrs, all the parents, mothers, fathers," the protesters chanted defiantly.
Those occupying the balcony then led the crowd outside in a series of call-and-response chants, with slogans like "Columbia, you will see, Palestine is almost free" and "This building is now liberated" echoing into the night, followed by another banner that was draped prominently across the building's facade with just one provocative word, "Intifada," the Arabic term used to describe a rebellion against Israel in the form of violent terrorism.
The occupying protestors announced their intention to maintain control of Hamilton until "Columbia meets every one of our demands."
