Images and video released by Columbia University show significant damage inside Hamilton Hall, including overturned furniture, broken windows, and barricades set up by protesters. The hall was occupied by protesters and later cleared by the police, who used a large vehicle to gain access to the building. The NYPD’s action to clear the protesters came after Mayor Eric Adams stated that the protest against the war in Gaza had been co-opted by outside agitators.
University President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik wrote a letter to the NYPD, stating that the events on campus left them no choice but to request police assistance. The university has been criticized for its response to protests against the war in Gaza, with accusations of silencing pro-Palestinian voices on campus. Professor Debbie Becher criticized the administration for suppressing student speech and negotiations with students did not result in people leaving the encampments at Columbia.
After the NYPD entered the campus, nearly 100 people were arrested, with about 40 of them at Hamilton Hall. Shafik requested that the police maintain a presence on campus through at least May 17, two days after the scheduled commencement. The university expects around 15,000 students to graduate, and the decision to clear protesters was made due to safety concerns. Hamilton Hall has a history of being occupied by protesters, dating back to a 1968 protest against the Vietnam War.
Protesters at Columbia, as well as at other universities, have been demanding that colleges divest from companies connected to Israel or the war in Gaza. The protest encampments at Columbia have been cleared multiple times, with over 100 people being arrested in a previous clearance. The university has stated that the occupation of Hamilton Hall and the resulting vandalism were deemed an untenable situation, leading to the involvement of law enforcement to clear the area and secure the campus.
The images and videos released by Columbia University depict the aftermath of the occupation of Hamilton Hall, with riot police in gear shown entering the building. The university stated that the protest, which was meant to be peaceful, had turned into a violent spectacle that served no purpose. Mayor Eric Adams supported the police action to clear the protesters, stating that it needed to end immediately.
Columbia University officials have faced criticism from students and faculty for their handling of the protests and accusations of silencing pro-Palestinian voices on campus. The university’s response to the protests against the war in Gaza has been met with backlash, leading to further tensions between the administration and the student body. Despite the challenges faced by the university, negotiations with students and efforts to maintain campus safety have been ongoing.
