Rory Wilson, a Columbia University student, along with his friends, attempted to stop a mob of anti-Israel protesters from taking over an academic building on campus. Despite their efforts to delay the agitators until police or security arrived, neither showed up to assist them. Wilson, a 22-year-old history senior, expressed frustration that the takeover occurred under the watch of university police and that the NYPD didn’t respond despite calls to 911. The incident was initiated when Wilson’s friends woke him up in the middle of the night to inform him that protesters were targeting a takeover of Hamilton Hall, an academic building used by the dean and other senior offices.
Desperately wanting to protect the building from an illegal break-in, Wilson and his friends made their way to the entrance of the building by slipping through gaps in the human chains formed by the protesters. Wilson and his friend, Charles Beck, stood in front of the doors as the mob pushed against them. Wilson, who is Jewish, felt it was important to stand up for what he believed was right, even though they weren’t ultimately able to stop the mob. The agitators were acting illegally, damaging university property, disrupting school activities, and violating agreements the university administration had tried to negotiate with them. Wilson stood his ground, even as his friend Beck was dragged away from the scene by the mob.
As the standoff at the doors escalated, Wilson was physically attacked by a man dressed in all black who attempted to throw him on the floor. Wilson described the man as dangerous and physically intimidating, unsure if he was a student or an outside agitator. The mob later renamed the building “Hind’s Hall” in response to a statement apparently posted by the group identifying with a young girl who died during the conflict in Gaza. Wilson tried to hold out in the hopes that the police would arrive but eventually had to step aside as the crowd smashed in the door windows and occupied the building.
Following the break-in, Wilson and his friends called 911 and campus security to report instances of assault, but there was no response. Wilson described feeling unsafe on campus after the takeover, with people dressed in black potentially following him back to his dorm. He also noted individuals climbing into buildings through windows, raising concerns about their intentions as students or outside agitators. Videos showed a suspected professional agitator in her 60s leading the charge, berating Wilson for his race and gender throughout the incident.
Wilson criticized the university for failing to take action against the violent agitators, despite claims of concern for student safety. He expressed disappointment in the university’s lack of response to the dangerous situation and emphasized the importance of addressing dire situations promptly. The incident left Wilson feeling disillusioned with the university and its handling of the situation, emphasizing the need for action rather than empty assurances. Overall, the incident at Columbia University highlighted the challenges faced by students trying to defend academic institutions from illegal takeovers by agitators.
