Protesters at Columbia University shattered windows at Hamilton Hall on the Manhattan campus early Tuesday, following the school's decision to suspend students who had not complied with a deadline to vacate a pro-Palestinian camp set up to protest the conflict in Gaza.
While the exact number of individuals inside Hamilton Hall was unconfirmed by NBC, the Columbia Spectator reported that dozens of protesters had seized the building, with one individual shouting, "Let’s finish what they did in 1968," in reference to the building's previous occupation during the Vietnam War protests.
Chants of "Disclose, divest. We will not stop, we will not rest," echoed through the building as the protest unfolded. The New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed that they were stationed outside the campus grounds around 2 a.m.
The demonstrators unfurled a banner outside Hamilton Hall, renaming it "Hind’s Hall," in memory of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old girl who died in Gaza amid Israeli attacks. The group expressed their intention to occupy Hamilton Hall in honor of Hind and all Palestinians who lost their lives in the conflict.
“This building is now being liberated,” a voice from the crowd declared early Tuesday, as a Palestinian flag was displayed from one of the windows. Trash cans were also utilized to create a makeshift barricade, while protesters chanted "Shut it down!" near the entrance, as seen in video footage from the scene.
Columbia University had initiated suspensions for students who remained at the pro-Palestinian encampment beyond the 2 p.m. deadline on Monday. The university president had previously announced the school's decision not to divest from Israel, a stance that has spurred protests across college campuses nationwide.
"We have begun suspending students," stated Ben Chang, the university's vice president for communications, approximately three hours after the deadline had passed. The exact number of suspended students was not disclosed.
The university had instructed student demonstrators to vacate the encampment by 2 p.m. or face suspension pending further investigation, thereby barring them from completing the spring semester. Despite this warning, the encampment, now in its second week, voted overwhelmingly to continue occupying the space.
At around 2:45 p.m., following the deadline, protesters marched on the quad, chanting "Disclose! Divest! We will not slow, we will not rest!"
While a portion of the encampment was cleared to accommodate the upcoming commencement ceremony for graduates, picketers largely remained on the perimeter.
David Lederer, a 22-year-old sophomore at Columbia, stood at the picket line waving an Israeli flag in opposition to the protests, stating, “I’m here to show we’re here to stay; we’re not going anywhere."
In a statement, President Minouche Shafik called for the protesters to disperse voluntarily, citing the protest's impact on Jewish students and faculty, as well as the disruption to university operations. She also emphasized the commencement ceremony scheduled for May 15, expressing a desire not to deprive graduating students and their families of a celebration.
More than 15,000 Columbia students are expected to graduate this spring.
The protests at Columbia were the first among many across the country in support of the Palestinian cause, with students demanding divestment from investments supporting weapons manufacturing and Israel in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has claimed over 34,000 lives in Gaza.
While Columbia University refused to divest from Israel, it offered an expedited review process for new divestment proposals from students through the Advisory Committee for Socially Responsible Investing. Additionally, the university pledged to publish a list of its direct investment holdings and increase the frequency of updates to that list.
The university also offered to invest in health and education in Gaza, including support for early childhood development and displaced scholars. Shafik urged the protesters to disperse voluntarily.
Among those suspended by Columbia for their involvement in the protests is undergraduate student Fadi Shuman, 31, who had been previously suspended for participating in a prior encampment.
A first-generation American born to Palestinian parents, Shuman expressed concerns about his ability to afford returning to school, stating, “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to go to school again. I don’t know I’ll be able to afford to go back to another school again."
The notices issued by the university on Monday, viewed by NBC News, asked protesters to identify themselves to a university official and sign a form agreeing to an alternative resolution for the university policy violations posed by the encampment. Those who complied were eligible to complete the semester in good standing and avoid suspension.
The university also offered to provide an alternative venue for demonstrations after the exam period and commencement had concluded.
In response to the university's actions, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, the coalition organizing the encampment protest, criticized what they called "repulsive scare tactics" and vowed to remain in place until their demands were met or they were forcibly removed.
The group condemned the university's threats of mass suspension, eviction, and possible expulsion as violations of the school's rules. They also likened the university's paper notices to flyers dropped by the Israeli army in Gaza.
Student organizer Sueda Polat, speaking at a Columbia rally, accused the university of acting with "obstinacy and arrogance" and of refusing to negotiate in good faith, leading to the breakdown of discussions.
Protests and unrest continued at colleges across the country, with arrests made at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Florida in Gainesville. Northwestern University in Illinois reached an agreement with demonstrators to end the encampment, while the Anti-Defamation League criticized the deal as rewarding bad behavior.
At Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, police made arrests as people refused to leave, with finals week underway. Tear gas-like substances were reportedly used by police.
Shuman reflected on the challenges of being of Palestinian descent but feeling unable to effect change, stating, “My whole life, I feel like growing up as a Palestinian in America you’re always living with this — whether you know it or not — it’s just survivor’s guilt."
“I’m over here, but not able to, like, actually do something,” he lamented.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misidentified a suspended student. He is Fadi Shuman, not Schuman, and he is an undergraduate student, not a graduate student.