A Columbia University student, Rory Wilson, attempted to stop a mob of anti-Israel protesters from taking over an academic building, but was unsuccessful as police or security support never arrived. Wilson and his friends tried to delay the agitators so that authorities could intervene, but ultimately, they had to step aside as the mob broke into Hamilton Hall. Despite attempting to protect the building from illegal entry, Wilson and his friend Charles Beck were unable to prevent the protesters from occupying the building. Wilson, a Christian with Jewish lineage and Israeli relatives, believed the protesters were acting inappropriately and illegally by damaging university property and disrupting school activities.
During the confrontation, a man dressed in black physically attacked Wilson, dragging Beck away and attempting to throw Wilson to the floor. The man had previously called Wilson a “Zionist” and made hateful comments in Arabic, creating a dangerous and intimidating situation. Even as the mob surrounded him, Wilson hesitated to leave, hoping that police would arrive and prevent further damage to the building. Wilson felt disappointed and unsafe, with suspicions of individuals dressed in black following him back to his dorm and climbing into buildings through windows. He also encountered a suspected professional agitator in her 60s who vilified him and his friends for attempting to stop the takeover.
Wilson criticized the university for failing to take action against the violent agitators and for not responding to calls for assistance. He felt let down by the administration’s lack of support and inaction in the face of a dangerous situation. Despite the university’s reassurances about student safety, Wilson believed that their response was inadequate and left students vulnerable to physical assault. The situation left him feeling disappointed and disillusioned with the institution’s handling of the incident. Wilson emphasized the need for the university to move beyond words and actually address the threats posed by violent protesters on campus.
As the mob occupied Hamilton Hall, Wilson and his friends called 911 and campus security to report incidents of assault, but received no response. The lack of security presence and response to the takeover left Wilson feeling unsafe and unsure about the presence of potentially dangerous individuals on campus. Wilson’s attempts to protect the building and stand up against the illegal actions of the protesters were met with physical violence and intimidation, highlighting the challenges faced by students trying to defend their campus against disruptive and destructive behavior. Despite the disappointing actions of the university and the violent encounters with the agitators, Wilson remained steadfast in his belief that what he was doing was right and necessary in protecting the campus community.
