Columbia protesters occupy building, smashing windows; worker: ‘They held me hostage’

Protesters at Columbia University have barricaded themselves inside an academic building on the upper Manhattan school’s campus, breaking windows and allegedly holding workers there hostage before releasing them, the Columbia Spectator student newspaper reports.

Doors to Hamilton Hall are shut and blocked with tables, chairs, metal barricades and other objects or are shuttered with locks, zip ties or ropes by dozens of protesters who broke into the building, the paper reports. Dozens more protesters rally outside, forming a human chain to block the doors and chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Palestine will live forever.”

Students at Columbia University have occupied Hamilton hall. Today the university president explicitly said to students the school would not be divesting and threatened to suspend students protesting. The last time this building was taken over by student protesters was in 1968 pic.twitter.com/IhoWVYlocB

— Lama Al-Arian (@lalarian) April 30, 2024

Videos from the scene show also show a person in a black hoodie smashing several windows, and then padlocking a door after several people exit, including a person wearing keffiyeh and someone with a placard identifying them as a journalist.

Holy…. pic.twitter.com/42Lw4kaRHY

— Jessica Schwalb (@jessicaschwalb7) April 30, 2024

The Spectator reports that one facilities worker left the building at 12:40 a.m. after yelling to be released, telling the crowd that he was “held hostage” as he leaves. Three other workers leave some 30 minutes later after the barricades blocking one door are removed.

A Palestinian Flag and a banner reading Hind’s Hall, referring to slain 6-year-old Gazan girl Hind Rajab, are unfurled out of windows of the building.

April 30, 1968
Police arrest 86 students occupying Hamilton Hall—out of 700 arrests made as negotiations broke down. Faculty linked arms to protect students

April 30, 2024
As negotiations break down & faculty link arms again, students occupy Hamilton Hallpic.twitter.com/iuvlKojmp1

— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) April 30, 2024

Hamilton Hall was occupied by students protesting the Vietnam War in 1968 and again by anti-apartheid activists in 1985, according to Wikipedia.