Columbia University Protesters Occupy Hamilton Hall, Demand Palestinian Freedom

On Tuesday morning, dozens of student protesters occupied Hamilton Hall, a building near the center of Columbia University's campus, blockading entrances and escalating their confrontation with the school's administration. The protesters, wearing masks and keffiyehs, entered Hamilton Hall, barricaded themselves inside, smashed some exterior windows, and covered interior windows with newspaper pages.

The occupation came after a deadline set by Columbia to abandon their Gaza Solidarity Encampment by 2 p.m. Monday, with the university stating it had begun issuing suspensions. The protesters are demanding that Columbia cut ties with Israeli institutions and have warned the university administration not to "incite another Kent or Jackson State" by using force against the protesters.

Outside Hamilton Hall, protesters formed human chains and used tables and trash cans to block the entrance. The occupation echoed the 1968 anti-Vietnam War protests that took place in the same building. During the occupation, two young men tried to stop the protesters, but were met with chants of "Settlers, settlers, go back home." By 3 a.m., the administration had not responded to the occupation, and the streets around campus were quiet with little police presence.

The protesters have made three demands: divestment from Israel, financial transparency, and amnesty for protesters. They have allegedly held some campus workers hostage inside the building. The protesters unfurled a banner from a window honoring a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, and chanted slogans like "Free Palestine" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

Why this matters: The protests at Columbia University reflect a growing movement on college campuses nationwide against the Israel-Hamas war and in support of Palestinian freedom. The protests have forced universities to reckon with their financial ties to Israel and their support for free speech, with some Jewish students saying the protests have veered into antisemitism.

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik said the protests have created an "unwelcoming environment" for some students and faculty. Shafik stated that the university will not divest from Israel, but offered to create an expedited timeline for reviewing new proposals from students and to make investments in health and education in Gaza. The university has issued notices to protesters occupying Hamilton Hall, asking them to vacate by 2 p.m. or face suspension. "The encampment has created an unwelcoming environment for many Jewish students and faculty and a distraction that interferes with academic activities," Shafik said.

Key Takeaways

• Pro-Palestinian protesters occupied Columbia University's Hamilton Hall.
• Protesters demand divestment from Israel, financial transparency, and amnesty.
• Protesters allegedly held some campus workers hostage inside the building.
• Columbia's president said the protests created an unwelcoming environment for Jewish students.
• Columbia refused to divest from Israel but offered other concessions to protesters.