The White House condemned a group of anti-Israel protesters who violently occupied a Columbia University building late Monday, saying “hate speech and hate symbols have no place in America.”
On Monday night, a large crowd of anti-Israel students invaded Hamilton Hall, an iconic academic facility on the Manhattan campus, and barricaded the doors. A facility official at Columbia University said the protesters “took me hostage.”
Outside Hamilton Hall, anti-Israel rebels linked arms and formed a human barricade, vowing to remain until the university met their three demands.
Columbia University locks down campus buildings ‘immediately’ after overnight riot
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, Columbia University students broke into Hamilton Hall. (Getty Images/Alex Kent)
Students are calling on universities to strip funding to Israel, increase transparency in investments, and grant full amnesty to protesting students if they face consequences.
President Biden did not publicly address the violent anti-Semitic protests Tuesday morning, but the White House issued a statement on his behalf.
Anti-Semitic riots reach boiling point in Colombia, with agitators occupying university buildings and barricaded doors
“Throughout his life, President Biden has fought against offensive anti-Semitic slurs and violent rhetoric,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement. “He condemns the use of the term ‘intifada’ as he has made other tragic and dangerous hate speeches in recent days.
White House responds to violence at anti-Israel demonstration at Columbia University (Getty | AP Images)
“President Biden respects the right to free expression, but protests must be peaceful and lawful,” Bates continued. “Forcibly occupying a building is not peaceful. It’s wrong.”
He added, “And hate speech and hate symbols have no place in America.”
Anti-Israel mob rebrands iconic Hamilton Hall after riots in Colombia
Columbia University announced Tuesday morning that it would close indefinitely “as conditions permit.”
On April 30, 2024, in New York City, demonstrators supporting Palestinians in the Gaza Strip barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building occupied during past student protests. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched back and forth as the university met a 2pm deadline to clear encampments given to students. Students were given a warning of suspension if they missed the deadline. Columbia University students were the first at the elite university to demand that the school withdraw from Israel and set up camps amid the Israeli-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians. Ta. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)
“Effective immediately, access to the Morningside campus will be limited to students residing in on-campus residential buildings (Carman, Fernald, John Jay, Hartley, Wallach, East Campus, and Vienna) and those living in campus buildings, laboratories, “Employees who provide essential services to housing and student life (e.g., dining, public safety, building maintenance staff, etc.) will be restricted to employees who provide essential services to housing and will have no additional access to the Morningside campus,” the university’s statement said. .
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It added: “This access restriction will continue until the situation allows.”
In a post, the university said student safety remains its “top priority” and thanked the community for “understanding” the current crisis.
“The safety of all members of this community is our top priority. Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and understanding,” the statement said.
