Columbia Students Occupy Hamilton Hall in Gaza Protest

The occupation of Hamilton Hall mirrors the tactics of the 1968 anti-Vietnam War protests, as demonstrators used furniture and metal barricades to secure the site. Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), the group leading the action, stated that the move was forced by the university’s refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations regarding its financial ties to companies linked to Israel’s military campaign. Organizers have vowed to hold the space until the school meets their demands for total divestment, financial transparency, and amnesty for participants.

In response to the takeover, university administrators have restricted campus access to essential staff and students while barring members of the press. Tensions remain high as the university faces mounting scrutiny over its disciplinary measures, which began in earnest following a 2:00 pm Monday deadline to clear earlier encampments. In a public statement, student organizers warned leadership against a heavy-handed police or military intervention, citing the potential for violence against the student body.