Protesters in Columbia defy deadline and occupy building

Pro-Palestine demonstrators at Columbia University have taken their protest to the next level by occupying an academic building on campus. The activists seized Hamilton Hall early on Tuesday, barricading themselves inside and defying university officials’ orders to leave.

The group, known as Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), along with Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), have vowed to continue their protest and protect their encampment. The takeover of Hamilton Hall, a historic venue for student activism, has reignited the debate over the war in Gaza and US support for Israel.

The campus has become a battleground for free expression and peaceful assembly, with tensions rising as police crackdowns and suspensions of students have failed to deter the protesters. The university’s refusal to divest from Israel has only fueled the demonstrators’ resolve to stay put.

As the encampment persists, students like Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee, are prepared for potential police intervention. The situation has drawn attention from the White House, which is navigating the delicate balance between supporting peaceful protests and condemning hate speech.

The protest at Columbia University reflects a larger trend across the US, with demonstrations and encampments spreading to campuses in at least 22 states and Washington DC. The debate over divestment from Israel and concerns about antisemitism have sparked a national conversation about the limits of free expression on college campuses.