Three janitors briefly held prisoner: record
After anti-Israel activists smashed panels and erected barriers inside Hamilton Hall early in the morning, Columbia University locked its college down on Tuesday for everyone but key personnel and students.
According to The Columbia Spectator, a team representative in the building at the time claimed that he had been held hostage for a while.
As of 9 a. m. Tuesday, the New York university yet barred the media from school” as a security measure”, a media update states.
According to the news, “access to college has been restricted to students residing in residential buildings on college and employees who provide essential services to school buildings, labs, and private student life.”
The Spectator reports more:
The [lock down ] comes six days after about three hundred protesters occupied Hamilton Hall and pledged to stay there until the University fulfills its stated needs, including financial transparency, amnesty for students detained and suspended in the April 18 mass arrests, including a pledge to stay in the building.
Demonstrators sealed off the constructing minutes after access, barricading the doors with sturdy tables, chairs, and flap ties. The steel furniture outside Hartley Hall were moved by protesters outside to the front of the doors, and ropes and zip relationships were used to secure them shut.
According to the student magazine, a facility employee claimed he was temporarily held prisoner before being released about ten minutes later. Later, two various staff said they likewise were temporarily held captive, according to Fox News.
Columbia has fallen
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators apparently reportedly seized a tower by force and erected a barricade inside. twitter.com/fhFbOmZVwY
— The College Fix (@CollegeFix ) April 30, 2024
According to an X film from independent journalist Jessica Schwalb, a number of individuals also reported being assaulted by protesters who tried to enter the tower.
Student is subjected to an assault by the crowd. @NYPDDaughtry Numerous kids have called the police, but where are you? ?
We are in risk. photograph. twitter.com/ghZWuMgb6y
— Jessica Schwalb ( @jessicaschwalb7 ) April 30, 2024
Pro- Arab protests have been going on for months at Columbia, with some protesters establishing a” Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on the grass.
According to school spokesman Ben Chang, students started receiving suspension notices on Monday after ignoring repeated warnings to keep their camp by 2 p.m. that day.
In a school release, Chang said,” Learners who agreed to leave and mark a type committing to abide by University procedures will be allowed to finish the semester.
Some instructors people, many of them wearing masks, joined the demonstrators just ahead of the 2 p. m. date, locking hands to form a people ring around the campsite, according to videos on X.
Unreal. Authorities are preventing them from clearing the camp, but Columbia faculty members are unarmed. Why do they continue to work? photograph. twitter.com/XrKlNCOx3q
— Ian Miles Cheong ( @stillgray ) April 29, 2024
As of Tuesday night, the pro- Arab protesters continue to occupy the tower. According to The Spectator, New York Police Department officials have been present at the field since around 12:45 a.m. but have not entered the building.
MORE: Virginia Tech protesters oath to keep, demand pro- Arab march’ relaxing’ after 82 arrests
Photo: Palestine SWG/Instagram
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