Anti-Israel protesters who occupied Hamilton Hall at Columbia University in New York are facing expulsion, according to the university.
Ben Chan, Columbia University Public Relations Officer issued A statement Tuesday afternoon said, hours after protesters occupied the building and the university restricted access to the campus “until the situation allows,” “Students occupying the building may be subject to expulsion. There is,” he revealed.
The university also announced a series of restrictions related to student access to residence halls and dining halls, as well as changes to transportation and postal services.
“We regret that the protesters chose to escalate the situation with their actions,” Chan said. “Our first priority is to restore safety and order to our campus.”
Video footage posted on social media early Tuesday morning showed protesters carrying barricades and entering Hamilton Hall, smashing the building’s glass doors and hanging pro-Palestinian banners from the windows. Ta.
Insane!Protesters at Columbia University break windows and barricade themselves inside the building.
Jessica Schwalb, Storyful
Chan’s statement continued:
We made it clear yesterday that university activities cannot be indefinitely disrupted by protesters breaking the rules. If you continue to do so, you will see obvious results. Protesters have chosen to escalate into intolerable conditions, destroying buildings, smashing doors and windows, and blocking entrances, and we continue to implement the consequences we outlined yesterday.
Students who occupy the building will be expelled.
Protesters were informed that participating in the encampment violated numerous university policies. We gave everyone in the camp a chance to depart peacefully. If you commit to following university policies, you will be allowed to complete the semester.
#now The glass door leading to Hamilton Hall in Columbia was smashed and protesters occupied the building, barricading the door with metal gates, blocking the entrance with wooden tables and chairs, and zip-tying the door. I closed it.pic.twitter.com/dXxErABRWL
— Oliya Scooter Caster (@ScooterCasterNY) April 30, 2024
Hours before protesters occupied Hamilton Hall, Columbia University announced it would begin suspending students involved in the encampment, giving them until 2 p.m. Monday to leave the school.
The first encampment was set up at Columbia University on April 17th. The next day, several students were suspended and hundreds of protesters were arrested for their involvement in the encampment.
The university removed the first encampment, but a second encampment sprang up in its place.
