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Columbia University shut down its campus on Tuesday after pro-Palestinian protesters barricaded themselves inside a campus building.
Only students living in residence halls and employees who perform essential duties are now allowed to access campus. Protesters took over Hamilton Hall on Monday night, tying doors shut with ropes and blocking entrances with outdoor furniture.
The demonstrations that have roiled the school’s New York campus for weeks show no signs of abating.
On Monday, Columbia began suspending students after hundreds of protesters refused to disperse from encampments by a 2pm deadline.
Columbia president Nemat Minouche Shafik said that talks between the school and protesters have broken down and that the university would not divest from Israel.
Ms Shafik has faced criticism for her decision to call in the New York Police Department against student protesters earlier this month, resulting in dozens of arrests and sparking waves of protests across the US.
Heavily-outfitted riot police arrested scores of students at the University of Texas on Monday afternoon, using zip ties, pepper spray and a stun grenade against the crowd.
Meanwhile, Northwestern University announced it had reached an agreement with students to dismantle their encampment in exchange for concessions.
Key Points
- Columbia students occupy historic Hamilton Hall overnight
- Columbia University shuts down campus as students occupy building
- Jewish student protesters say Columbia’s pro-Palestine demonstrations aren’t antisemitic
- Graduating seniors blame USC for ruining end of college with ‘military’ crackdown on pro-Palestine campus protests
- Police launch violent crackdowns on Gaza protests on campuses across the US: ‘We’re terrified of another Kent State’
- USC cancels main commencement ceremony following chaotic pro-Palestine protests
- Columbia University refuses to divest from Israel
- Riot police use pepper spray as dozens arrested at University of Texas pro-Gaza protest encampment
- Over 800 US students have been arrested this month in Israel-Gaza war protests
How Columbia University's complex history with the student protest movement echoes into today
College students taking up space and making demands for change. University administrators facing pressure to get things back under control. Police brought in to make arrests. At other schools: students taking note, and sometimes taking action.
Columbia University, 2024. And Columbia University, 1968.
The pro-Palestinian demonstration and subsequent arrests at Columbia that have set off similar protests at campuses nationwide these days and even internationally aren’t new ground for students at the Ivy League school. They’re the latest in a Columbia tradition that dates back more than five decades — one that also helped provide inspiration for the anti-apartheid protest of the 1980s, the Iraq war protests, and more.
READ MORE:
How Columbia University's complex history with the student protest movement echoes into today
Students protested what they saw as injustice and demanded change
Katie Hawkinson30 April 2024 16:00 1714488158Pro-Palestinian student protesters at Oregon school barricade inside library
Pro-Palestinian protesters at Portland State University have barricaded themselves inside a campus library.
Protesters are demanding the university cut ties with Boeing due to its financial ties with Israel. In response, Portland State University paused donations to the company.
Now, local authorities say they plan to prosecute students, local outlet KATU reports.
“Let me be clear, we will prosecute the cases, pending review of evidence, of course, that is able to be collected provided by law enforcement, I expect that felony charges could be filed...including burglary and felony criminal mischief, along with other potential misdemeanors, “ Multnomah County, Oregon District Attorney Mike Schmidt said on Monday evening.
After students barricaded inside the library on Monday evening, the school shut down its campus. As of 6 am local time — just over one hour ago — the occupation was “ongoing,” university administrators said.
Katie Hawkinson30 April 2024 15:42 1714487420WATCH: Cornell student suspended over Gaza protest speaks out
Professor charged with battery after she was ‘violently arrested’ in pro-Palestine protests on viral video
An Emory University economics professor has been charged with battery after it appeared she was forcefully arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest on campus.
A CNN video caught the moment that a woman, believed to be Caroline Fohlin, was detained by Georgia police last Thursday. She was wrestled on the ground after trying to question law enforcement who were arresting protestors.
CNN reported that at least two professors were detained by Atlanta police - Emory University economics professor Caroline Fohlin and Noëlle McAfee, chair of the philosophy department, but the outlet did not confirm if it was Ms Fohlin in the video.
READ MORE:
Professor charged after she was ‘violently arrested’ in pro-Palestine protests
At least 28 people arrested at Emory University in Georgia after police came to disperse a pro-Palestine protest
Katie Hawkinson30 April 2024 15:00 1714483909Columbia University shuts down campus as students occupy building
Columbia University shut down its New York City campus Tuesday, granting access only to students living in residence halls and employees who perform essential duties.
The move comes after pro-Palestinian student protesters occupied Hamilton Hall, a campus building, early Tuesday morning.
The protesters renamed the building “Hind’s Hall,” in honour of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli tanks in Gaza as paramedics tried to rescue her.
Watch as Columbia University students discuss request to vacate protest encampment
Watch as students from Columbia University hold a press conference after the school ordered them to vacate their protest encampment.
Columbia University’s president said on Monday (29 April) that talks with pro-Palestinian protesters over the dismantling of an encampment on the Ivy League campus had failed and urged them to voluntarily disperse or face suspension from school.
President Nemat Minouche Shafik said days of talks between student organisers and academic leaders had failed to break a stalemate over the tent encampment set up to protest Israel’s war in Gaza.
READ MORE:
Watch as Columbia University students discuss request to vacate
Watch as students from Columbia University hold a press conference after the school ordered them to vacate their protest encampment.
Graig Graziosi30 April 2024 14:00 1714478400WATCH: US campus protests against Israel intensify
IN PICTURES: Columbia University students barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall
Columbia University students protesting the war in Gaza have occupied the institution’s Hamilton Hall building:
Columbia Gaza protestors take over campus building:
Protesters move metal barricades as they hole up inside Hamilton Hall:
Demonstrators supporting Palestinians in Gaza barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall:
Columbia University professor says university turned protest site into ‘crime scene’
Columbia University anthropology professor Mahmood Mamdani said school’s administration turned the site of an ongoing Gaza protest into “a crime scene”.
Some members of the university’s faculty joined with student protesters ahead of a 2pm deadline the school gave demonstrators to disperse or face suspension.
“Nobody thinks they should be suspended. Look at the thousands that have turned up here,” Mr Mamdani told CNN.
He said that professors”teach our students not to accept things at face value” and to “ask questions, no matter the consequences”.
“The idea of penalizing students for protests? The administration has turned the site of a protest into a crime scene,” he said. “If I were the administration, I would have promoted discussion, not muzzled discussion.”
Graig Graziosi30 April 2024 12:00 1714473051Columbia students occupy Hamilton Hall, site of anti-Vietnam War demonstrations in 1968
Columbia University students protesting the war in Gaza have occupied the institution’s Hamilton Hall building, also the site of anti-Vietnam War demonstrations in 1968, flying a Palestinian flag from the facility as people were warned to stay away from campus on Tuesday.
The development comes after the elite institution began suspending students on Monday after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters refused to disperse from encampments by a 2pm deadline. Instead, hundreds remained on campus after the deadline passed.
Joe Sommerlad30 April 2024 11:30 Newer1 / 11OlderDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
