Pro-Palestinian student groups at Columbia University have distanced themselves from the students who are occupying Hamilton Hall, describing them as an autonomous subgroup of those involved in a larger encampment on the campus’ West Lawn. The occupiers are demanding that the university divest its endowment from companies profiting from Israel’s actions in Gaza. The groups say they are not organizing the occupation, but have expressed solidarity with the students inside and their cause. The protesters have faced risks and consequences for their actions, but see themselves as standing in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
The occupation of Hamilton Hall began on Tuesday and involved barricading doors and using a milk crate on a pulley to bring supplies into the building through a window. A Palestinian flag was waved from the roof of the building, adding energy to the demonstration below. While the campus was quiet due to the end of the spring semester, a small rally in support of the protesters took place outside Hamilton Hall, where a “Free Palestine” banner hung from a window. The protesters have created a challenging situation for the university, with reports of students smashing windows to gain entry to the building.
University spokesperson Ben Chang has warned that students occupying Hamilton Hall face expulsion, and those who refuse to dismantle the encampment and disperse have been suspended and denied access to academic and recreational spaces. Chang emphasized that the school’s response is about the actions of the protesters, not necessarily their cause. The protesters, naming the building “Hind’s Hall” after a Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, see their actions as necessary to push the administration to acknowledge their demands. The escalating situation has raised concerns for the safety and well-being of the students involved.
The protests at Columbia have drawn attention from law enforcement officials, with accusations of outside agitators being involved in the occupation of Hamilton Hall. New York Mayor Eric Adams has accused these actors of using tactics that could make it difficult for police to intervene if necessary. Students on the campus have been restricted from entering buildings, and tensions are high as both protesters and authorities brace for potential confrontations. The actions taken by the university and law enforcement in response to the protesters represent a broader clash between student activism and institutional authority.
The protests at Columbia are part of a larger trend of student-led movements on college campuses across the country, focused on issues of social justice and international conflicts. The occupation of Hamilton Hall reflects a pattern of escalating tactics and responses by both students and the university administration. The protesters have faced consequences for their actions, including arrests and suspensions, indicating a willingness to take risks to draw attention to their cause. As the situation continues to develop, the future of the occupation and the response from the university remain uncertain.
