The occupation of a building on Columbia University’s campus early Tuesday added to a tense 24 hours of pro-Palestinian protests nationwide. In California, police began arresting protesters who had taken over at least one other building and threatened similar actions at others. (Reuters photo)
In New York City, the occupation of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University began shortly after midnight as protesters marched around campus chanting “free Palestine.” Within 20 minutes, the protesters had taken control of Hamilton, a historic 118-year-old building that has been a focal point of campus protests since the 1960s. A spokesperson for Columbia University was not immediately available for comment. (Reuters photo)
Outside the neoclassical building, protesters, many equipped with helmets, safety glasses, gloves, and masks, barricaded the entrance. Meanwhile, inside, demonstrators stacked chairs and tables at the entrance. A protester wielded a hammer to break the glass portion of a door. It seemed the protesters had unrestricted access to the building. (Reuters photo)
Columbia University on Monday evening announced the initiation of student suspensions for those who had not complied with the deadline to vacate the encampment on its Manhattan campus, which the university had set earlier in the day. (Reuters photo)
After a day of protest and uncertainty, the decision mirrors the challenging equilibrium Columbia administrators are navigating. They aim to prevent the involvement of the Police Department in arresting encampment occupants while maintaining their stance that the protest needs to conclude. (Reuters photo)
Students and supporters rallied around the encampment to stop tent removal. As the afternoon progressed without police intervention, most protesters dispersed, leaving around 80 tents and several dozen students remaining. (Reuters photo)
Columbia’s approach seems geared towards allowing the two-week-old encampment to naturally wind down before the May 15 graduation, rather than forcefully dispersing it, which administrators fear could escalate protests. While some students in the encampment have been identified, not all have been. Notifications of their suspensions are likely to be sent individually via email. (Reuters photo)
