Columbia student protesters seize university building, White House condemns move
Student protests at Columbia University
Columbia University student protestors claimed to have taken over Hamilton Hall on Tuesday (April 30) after the university started suspending students who refused to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus.
Theuniversityadministrationhadpreviouslydeclaredthattheprotestcampsitemustbeevacuatedby2:00p.m.(1800GMT)orstudentsmayfacedisciplinarypunishment.
According to an Instagram post by student groups, protestors have "taken matters into their own hands," and they intend to remain until Columbia divests financially from Israel.
A video posted by the student protestors shows rows of students approaching the building with barricades. The demonstrators claimed thata "autonomous group" had taken over the building, which houses the classics, Germanic, and Slavic language departments, and renamedit "Hind Hall" in honor of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old who was killed inGaza this year while calling for help.
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"Students have taken over Hamilton Hall. This escalation is in line with uprisings in 1968, 1985 and 1996, which Columbia repressed then and celebrates today. All power to students putting their bodies and livelihoods on the line to stand against genocide," Palestinian Youth Movement wrote on X.
The students said that their takeover of the building represented the “next generation” of Columbia University student movements and that they would not leave until the school granted their requestsfor,“divestment, financial transparency, and amnesty.”
While theexactnumber of student demonstrators inside the building is unknown, the Columbia Spectator, the university's student newspaper, reported that dozens of protestors are inside the building.
White House condemns
Meanwhile, the Biden White House has condemned this move by students.
“The president believes that forcibly taking over a building on campus is absolutely the wrong approach. That is not an example of peaceful protest,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said during a press briefing.
“Hate speech and hate symbols have no place in this country,” Kirby added.
What is the significance of Hamilton Hall?
The 118-year-old Hamilton Hall has been the focal point of campus demonstrations since the 1960s.Amid protests against racism, the Vietnam War, and the university's intended expansion into Morningside Park, activists took control of it in 1968.
