In a dramatic turn of events, dozens of pro-Gaza protesters were arrested on the Columbia University campus, prompting police to break into a window on the second floor of a building. The protesters had been occupying Hamilton Hall since early yesterday morning, blocking access and vandalizing the building.
Columbia University, located in Manhattan, was at the heart of a national movement in the United States supporting the Palestinian cause and opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza. The university had no choice but to take action after learning that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized, and boarded up, forcing university personnel out of the building.
In a statement released by CNN, a university spokesperson expressed regret that the protesters escalated the situation through their actions. The spokesperson stated that Columbia had no choice but to take action after learning that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized, and boarded up, forcing university personnel out of the building.
The pro-Palestinian group “Columbia University Apartheid Divest” denounced the police raid on their Instagram account, claiming they were forcibly removed from Hamilton Hall, which they had renamed “Hind’s Hall” in honor of a six-year-old girl killed in Gaza. The New York police denied using tear gas during the arrests but confirmed they used tactics to surprise and catch protesters off guard.
Classes were canceled at UNC Chapel Hill and at least five protesters were arrested at Florida State University as other universities also dealt with students camping in support of the Palestinian cause. Some institutions cleared out encampments while others faced chaos. It is clear that this movement is not limited to one specific institution or city; it is a larger movement gaining momentum across college campuses nationwide.
