New York City police leaders cleared Columbia University’s historic Hamilton Hall on Wednesday, hours after they cleared a group of anti-Israel agitators who had “occupied” the building as part of an ongoing demonstration. The latest information was announced in the morning.
Police finally stormed the building after school administrators repeatedly backed down over the past two weeks from meeting deadlines demanding the group clear its campus encampment. After students invaded the school’s Hamilton Hall and “occupied” the building, Columbia University authorities finally threatened the group with expulsion.
“Students found occupying the building may be expelled,” school spokesman Ben Chan declared in bold letters in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
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On April 30, 2024, in New York City, anti-Israel agitators barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building occupied by past student protests. Demonstrators marched as the university met a 2 p.m. deadline for students to clear encampments. Students were given a warning of suspension if they missed the deadline. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)
The blunt warning came about 12 hours after a group of protesters wearing masks and keffiyehs were photographed entering the building, barricading the door and taking over.
Protesters have chosen to escalate into intolerable conditions, including vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, and blocking entrances, and we continue to implement the consequences we outlined yesterday.
“University activities cannot be endlessly disrupted by demonstrators violating regulations,” Chan said.
“If we continue with this behavior, there will be clear consequences. The protesters have chosen to escalate the situation into intolerability, destroying property, breaking doors and windows, blocking entrances, We are following the results outlined yesterday.”
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On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, Columbia University students broke into Hamilton Hall. (Getty Images/Alex Kent)
Outside the occupied building, a group of like-minded activists took up arms and demanded that the university back down on its demands by withdrawing Israeli-related businesses and promising not to punish students who took part in the demonstrations.
Critics have widely condemned the controversial encampments that have popped up on the campuses of Columbia University and other major universities as a display of anti-Semitism that threatens the safety of Jewish classmates.
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On April 30, 2024, New York City Police Department officers arrest anti-Israel demonstrators who had barricaded themselves in the iconic Hamilton Hall building in New York City after entering the Columbia University building. The occupiers were removed from the building approximately two hours after the operation. According to reports, riots broke out and more than 100 people were arrested. (Selcuk Achar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The school has already begun issuing suspensions, and said the seniors affected will not be able to graduate on time.
“This is in response to the actions of the protesters, not their cause,” Chan said. “As we stated yesterday, the disruption on campus creates a threatening environment for many Jewish students and faculty and loud noises that interfere with teaching, learning, and preparation for final exams, in violation of Title VI. It contributes to a hostile environment.”
View of the broken window in the entrance door of Hamilton Hall. (Selcuk Achar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Early Tuesday, university authorities declared a lockdown following the break-in at Hamilton Hall.
The NYPD later revealed video evidence of “professional” protesters inciting students at the scene.
Supporters of Students for Justice Palestine (SJP), one of the groups organizing the nationwide anti-Israel demonstrations, insist they are carrying out peaceful protests.
Columbia University President Nemat Shafik leaves the Lowe Memorial Library on the Columbia University campus on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The embattled university president, who is under pressure to resign, has reportedly met with US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson. before his speech at the university. (Fox News Digital)
But Jewish students at Columbia University and elsewhere told Fox News Digital they face harassment, discrimination and physical threats.
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“I heard voices,” one student, who asked to be identified only as Josh due to safety concerns, told FOX News Digital. Demonstrators chanting anti-Israel slogans They continued to beat the drums until late at night.
Masked protesters stand guard at a locked gate in West Lawn, Columbia. Dozens of students are pitching tents, demanding the university take a number of anti-Israel measures amid clashes between the country’s military and Hamas terrorists who attacked on October 25th. 7th, 2023. (Michael Lewis/Fox News Digital)
“The scariest thing I want to stress is that we have no idea who was in these camps,” he said. “As I was walking home at night, I saw people climbing over the fence and smuggling things out the back door.” He said some of the people he witnessed were linked to the protests. He said he looked similar to the student who had been suspended from school.
Colombian anti-Israel agitators issue defiant ultimatum
He also played a cellphone video taken over the weekend showing a group of anti-Israel agitators calling a pair of Jewish students “Zionists” and showing them wearing Star of David necklaces. It showed how he was surrounded by reasons.
Multiple people who claimed to be authorized to speak on behalf of the Columbia camp declined to be interviewed by Fox News Digital.
Anti-Israel agitators relax inside an encampment set up on the West Lawn of Columbia University on April 25, 2024, in New York City. Early Tuesday morning, a group of extremist protesters entered the school’s Hamilton Hall and barricaded themselves inside. (Michael Lewis/Fox News Digital)
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“I have a friend who got hit,” said third-year student Itai Dreifs. Columbia University Undergraduate School and an Israeli veteran from Tel Aviv. “It’s scary. It’s violent.”
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack, killing over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping and holding over 200 hostages. Israel’s military response continues, leaving thousands dead.
Earlier this month, another Israeli veteran attend columbia university A student has filed a lawsuit alleging that the school harshly punished him for using “fart spray” while turning a blind eye to anti-Semitic rhetoric by anti-Israel activists.
FOX News’ Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.
