Columbia: Students barricading in building to face expulsion

CHICAGO (NewsNation) — Protesters at Columbia University in New York City who barricaded themselves inside an academic building on campus early Tuesday could face expulsion, a spokesperson said.

This comes after university administrators suspended and arrested student protestors who failed to clear out from an encampment erected on campus earlier this month to protest Israel's military action in Gaza, which has killed over 34,000 Palestinians.

Now, the university has limited access to the campus as the demonstrations continue. Members of the university who can avoid coming to the Morningside campus are being urged to stay away by Columbia's administration. Currently, only "essential personnel" and those with a university ID are being let inside the school.

Protesters barricade in Hamilton Hall

As of 9 a.m. ET, the group remained inside Hamilton Hall.

Video footage from overnight showed protesters on Columbia’s Manhattan campus carrying furniture and metal barricades to the building, one of several that was occupied during a 1968 civil rights and anti-Vietnam War protest on the campus.

Demonstrators could be seen in videos, covered in masks and headwear, and placing wooden chairs and metal tables in front of the doors after breaking a window to enter the building. Throughout the day, student protestors in the barricaded building could be seen pulling food up with ropes.

"We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. Our top priority is restoring safety and order on our campus," Ben Chang, a Columbia University spokesperson said in a statement. "We made it very clear yesterday that the work of the University cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules. Continuing to do so will be met with clear consequences."

David Pomerantz, a Columbia student, told NewsNation that he was not personally afraid for his safety, but "as a collective," he felt the demonstrations were an unsafe situation.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest, meanwhile, in a statement Monday, said student protestors had been put in danger by the university after administrators instituted a "police state with military-style checkpoints, repressing and isolating students on campus, calling armed riot cops for the largest mass arrests on campus since 1968, and weaponizing food insecurity and houselessness as leverage in negotiations."

"Columbia has forced protestors to escalate by contributing to a genocide while refusing to follow baseline stands of conduct that make negotiation possible," the organization said.

Earlier this month, over 100 protestors were arrested at Columbia after university officials called the New York Police Department on them. However, Columbia administrators said they do not have plans to call the NYPD again at this time.

The NYPD told CNN that it would not enter the campus without a request from Columbia University.

As protestors entered Hamilton Tuesday, they unfurled a Palestinian flag out of a window.

Demonstrators shouted "shut it down" and formed a human chain around the academic building.

“An autonomous group reclaimed Hind’s Hall, previously known as 'Hamilton Hall,' in honor of Hind Rajab, a martyr murdered at the hands of the genocidal Israeli state at the age of six years old,” CU Apartheid Divest posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Tuesday.

Rajab was found in January of this year, lying in a "battered and bullet-ridden vehicle," NBC News reported. In the days before Rajab's death, she and her family had tried to flee the devastation in Gaza, but a bombing near a gas station killed her relatives. The Palestine Red Crescent Society later released a phone call of Rajab pleading with emergency dispatchers to "come take me, please, will you come?" with the little girl saying she was "so scared." When dispatchers asked Rajab if she was surrounded by Israeli gunfire, Hind had said "yes," NBC wrote. A rescue worker eventually was able to reach Rajab, finding her, her family members, and two paramedics who had tried to save her all deceased.

Columbia is one of many colleges nationwide that have seen demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war.

Columbia University suspends students

This all came after Columbia University officials gave students one last chance Monday deadline to leave the encampment or face suspension. Yet, protesters continued to chant "Free Palestine" far past that deadline with dozens of tents still on campus.

The hall's takeover occurred nearly 12 hours after Monday’s 2 p.m. deadline.

Representatives for the university did not immediately respond to emails requesting comment early Tuesday.

Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said that there must be "accountability” for the building takeover, "whether that’s disciplinary action from the school or from law enforcement.”

Asked about the protests, White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said President Joe Biden believes that "forcibly" taking over a building on campus is "the wrong approach."

"A small percentage of students shouldn't be able to disrupt the academic experience, the legitimate study, for the rest of the student body," Kirby said. "Students paying to go to school and want an education are to be able to do that without disruption and they ought to be able to do it and feel safe doing it."

The office of the U.N. human rights chief, Volker Türk, meanwhile, expressed concern about “heavy-handed steps” taken to dismantle protests on U.S. campuses, while stressing that antisemitic, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian comments were “totally unacceptable and deeply disturbing.” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres later told reporters that "it is up to the university authorities to have the wisdom to properly manage situations like the ones we have witnessed.”

Demonstrations across the nation

Universities across the U.S. are grappling with how to deal with encampments as commencement ceremonies approach, with some continuing negotiations and others turning to force and ultimatums that have resulted in clashes with police.

Dozens of people were arrested Monday during protests at universities in Texas, Utah and Virginia.

At the University of Texas at Austin, an attorney said at least 40 demonstrators were arrested Monday. The confrontation was an escalation on the 53,000-student campus in the state’s capital, where more than 50 protesters were arrested last week. Demonstrators were seen dragged by their feet as well as pouring water in their eyes after being pepper sprayed. State troopers confronted protestors with tear gas and flash bangs.

Gov. Gregg Abbott made his position clear, posting to X, "No encampments will be allowed. Instead, arrests are being made."

At the University of California, Los Angeles, pro-Palestinian demonstrators and pro-Israeli counter-protestors got into a scuffle Monday night,  NewsNation local affiliate KTLA reports.

Pushing, shoving and shouting between the groups could be seen on videos from around 11:30 p.m. This happened after about 60 counter-protesters tried to breach the encampment, which KTLA said was blocking access to Royce Quad. Before that, the counter-protestors had used a megaphone to shout and play music in front of the tents, surrounded by wood and metal fencing.

A handful of UCLA police officers in riot gear responded to the area, with several security guards, forcing the counter-protestors to move back.

UCLA said in a statement Tuesday that it "significantly increased" its security presence on campus. Claiming there had been a report of a student's access to class being blocked by demonstrators, May Osako, vice chancellor for UCLA Strategic Communications, said the university has initiated its student conduct process, which could lead to "severe disciplinary action including expulsion or suspension."

At around 6 a.m. Tuesday, at least 30 people were arrested on trespassing charges among others at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Still, students and faculty put on a silent protest for about 30 minutes on campus, and vowed to return later. NewsNation local affiliate WNCN wrote that classes for the remainder of the day were canceled, with non-mandatory operations suspended.

At one point, protestors brought down the U.S. flag and replaced it with the Palestinian flag, WNCN wrote. Officers came down to the UNC quad to take down the Palestinian flag. One of them was seen by a WNCN crew using an aerosol spray to deter protestors.

The number of arrests at campuses nationwide is approaching 1,000 as the final days of class wrap up.

The outcry is forcing colleges to reckon with their financial ties to Israel, as well as their support for free speech. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus.  Protesters have said, though, that those being antisemitic do not represent them and pointed out that many Jewish students are joining them in their cause. Some student demonstrators held signs saying “Jews for Free Palestine” or “Jews for Palestine," while pictures on social media circulated of Passover seders being held at the encampments.

In addition, Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine wrote last week that they fielded "many reports of physical aggression and keffiyehs being pulled off."

University negotiations continue

In a rare case, Northwestern University said it reached an agreement with students and faculty who represent the majority of protesters on its campus near Chicago. It allows peaceful demonstrations through the June 1 end of spring classes and in exchange, requires the removal of all tents except one for aid, and restricts the demonstration area to allow only students, faculty and staff unless the university approves otherwise.

At Yale, campus police issued a final warning Tuesday morning for any protesters to leave or face consequences, including suspension and arrest for trespassing. According to the statement, all student protesters chose to leave the encampment and Yale has started clearing tents off campus.

"Yale fully supports peaceful protests and freedom of speech; however, claiming control of our shared space is inconsistent with our principles and values. The university does not tolerate the violation of its longstanding policies on using on-campus outdoor spaces, postering and chalking, or the use of amplified sound," the Yale Police Department said.

At the University of Southern California, organizers of a large encampment sat down with university President Carol Folt for about 90 minutes Monday. Folt declined to discuss details but said she heard the concerns of protesters and talks would continue Tuesday.

USC sparked a controversy April 15 when officials refused to allow the valedictorian, who has publicly supported Palestinians, to make a commencement speech, citing nonspecific security concerns for their rare decision. Administrators then scrapped the keynote speech by filmmaker Jon M. Chu, who is an alumnus, and declined to award any honorary degrees.

The backlash, as well as Columbia’s demonstrations, inspired the encampment and protests on campus last week where 90 people were arrested by police in riot gear. The university has canceled its main graduation event, although individual school ceremonies will continue with extra security precautions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.