The incident, which began around 1 a.m., saw the students chanting "free Palestine" as they marched through the campus before converging on the hall. The protesters, some of whom were masked, used hammers and other tools to gain entry into the building, subsequently barricading the entrance with tables, chairs, and a human chain.
Jessica Costescu, who was on the scene, captured the unfolding chaos on camera. Her images depict the front of Hamilton Hall, where the students had blockaded the doors and shattered windows. The proximity of the freshman dormitory to the scene of the protest was also highlighted, with Costescu noting that the students' ability to sleep or study for their upcoming finals was severely compromised.
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Once inside Hamilton Hall, the protesters hung flags and banners, including one that called for "intifada," as shown in a photo taken by the Washington Free Beacon. The students also chanted, "Settlers, settlers, go back home, Palestine is ours alone" and "Long live the intifada."
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The protesters were not only aggressive in their takeover of the building but also towards those who attempted to intervene or document the incident. Costescu reported being grabbed and pushed by the protesters, who declared, "We will not move until Columbia meets every one of our demands."
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April 30, 2024
The protest was not limited to students. Faculty members were seen near Hamilton Hall, having come out in support of the protesters. By 4 a.m., the original "Gaza Solidarity" encampment, which had been a thorn in the side of the university for nearly a week, was largely deserted as students relocated their tents.
In response to the occupation of Hamilton Hall, Columbia officials released a statement acknowledging the incident. Shortly after, Columbia president Minouche Shafik effectively closed the campus, with only residents of the university's residential buildings and employees providing essential services permitted to enter.
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The group behind the encampment protests, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of student groups, issued a statement on Instagram. They claimed that an "autonomous group of students has taken matters into their own hands," and would remain in Hamilton Hall until the university divests from death. The group also issued "an urgent call for mobilization," urging students to join their picket outside the building and defend the original camp.
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The occupation of Hamilton Hall followed Shafik's decision to suspend students who ignored her Monday 2 p.m. deadline to voluntarily disperse from the encampment. The deadline was set after days of fruitless negotiations between university officials and student protesters. The students unanimously voted to stay in the encampment, responding to the university's letters with messages such as "COLUMBIA WILL BURN" and "I AINT READING ALL THAT FREE PALESTINE." They also pledged to escalate their tactics.
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It remains unclear whether the occupation of Hamilton Hall will prompt Shafik to call the police to the campus. After the 2 p.m. deadline passed on Monday, Columbia's head of communications, Ben Chang, reiterated a statement from Shafik that bringing police to campus "at this time would be counterproductive."
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