Overnight on Monday, the Columbia anti-Israel agitators that have occupied the Morningside campus in New York City over the past two weeks became increasingly violent after the unruly mob broke into and occupied Hamilton Hall. Footage of the siege showed some of the agitators, many dressed in black and fully masked, smashing windows and barricading doors with picnic tables and metal gates.
In response to the violence, Columbia was forced to block all access to university buildings on campus to students who pay up to $86,000 per year to attend. "Effective immediately, access to the Morningside campus has been limited to students residing in residential buildings on campus (Carman, Furnald, John Jay, Hartley, Wallach, East Campus and Wien) and employees who provide essential services to campus buildings, labs and residential student life (for example, Dining, Public Safety, and building maintenance staff). There is no additional access to the Morningside campus," the university administration said in a statement. "This access restriction will remain in place until circumstances allow otherwise."
During their siege, the demonstrators shouted, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" and "Palestine will live forever" as they zip-tied doors and forced some of the facility workers to remain in the building. According to the Columbia Daily Spectator, one of the workers, who shouted at demonstrators to let him leave, said, "They held me hostage" upon leaving the building at around 12:40 AM EST.
The mutiny in the New York City campus comes after Columbia University President Minouche Shafik told the demonstrators that they had until 2 PM EST on Monday to disperse their encampment from the campus or face suspension. However, the organizers rejected her demands, prompting the university to issue suspensions for the uncooperative students. "Regretfully, we were not able to come to an agreement," Shafik said in a statement. "We are consulting with a broader group in our community to explore alternative internal options to end this crisis as soon as possible."
In response to the chaos and footage seen overnight, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), who gave a speech on the campus last week, demanded that Shafik resign from her position for her failure to act. "This is not a protest; this is terrorism," Johnson wrote. "President Shafik must resign immediately." New York Representative Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY), a former NYPD officer, also demanded action from university administrators. "Antisemitic agitators have taken hammers to [Columbia] and are now occupying a main building. These terror sympathizers will destroy [Columbia] until leadership steps up," he wrote on X. "Shafik's out of her depth — resign."
WATCH:
BREAKING: Columbia Occupiers have declared Hamilton Hall is now "Hind's Hall"
— Stu (@thestustustudio) April 30, 2024
"INTRODUCING HIND'S HALL. GLORY TO ALL OUR MARTYRS." pic.twitter.com/BH4D4IAfkE
Antisemitic agitators have taken hammers to @Columbia and are now occupying a main building.
— Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (@RepDesposito) April 30, 2024
These terror sympathizers will destroy @Columbia until leadership steps up.
Shafik’s out of her depth — resign. pic.twitter.com/yGLeRJ21UO
Palestinian protesters are assaulting normal Columbia college students.
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) April 30, 2024
The lawsuits against Columbia will be a sight to behold. pic.twitter.com/yRJyYU2ozY
NEW: Pro-Palestine protesters have seized Hamilton Hall at Columbia University and barricaded themselves inside.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 30, 2024
The move came just hours after the school began suspending students over the protests.
The protesters draped a banner after taking over the building that read… pic.twitter.com/6kG4wq1K3v
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