Columbia Student Protesters Occupy Campus Building
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Gaza protests at Columbia University escalated early Tuesday morning, as dozens of protesters moved from occupying an outdoor space to barricading themselves inside Hamilton Hall. University leaders closed the campus to students who did not live there.
The Details: Columbia began suspending student protesters occupying campus space on Monday, but many persisted. The protesters hung up a flag dubbing the building “Hind’s Hall,” after Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl who was killed in Gaza.
For Context: Columbia is not the only university where campus protests and encampments have occurred, but it has served as a focal point for media coverage. Portland State University and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt also closed their campuses due to protests, and many protesters were arrested on Monday at the University of Texas at Austin.
Coverage from the Right: Coverage in right-rated media outlets often sensationalized the story, characterizing the student protesters as “anti-Israel rebels” or an “unruly mob” that smashed windows and shouted “Intifada!” A Fox News (Right bias) tagline read, “IVY ANARCHY,” and a New York Post (Lean Right bias) headline told of “campus chaos.”
Coverage from the Left: Some left-rated outlets, like The New York Times (Lean Left bias) and NPR (Lean Left bias), noted Hamilton Hall’s “Long History of Student Takeovers,” including a 1968 takeover by Vietnam anti-war protesters. The Times also noted past occupations in 1972, 1985, 1992, and 1996. The left’s inclusion of this context normalizes Tuesday’s events; the right’s omission, on the other hand, frames the occupation as exceptional and dangerous.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Columbia University protesters occupy a campus building, echoing 1968Protesters began occupying a central campus building at Columbia University in New York early Tuesday morning, one day after the school asked them to voluntarily disperse from an encampment set up in support of Palestinians.
Once inside, students chained and barricaded the doors. A crowd cheered as the facade was draped with signs reading "Intifada" and "Hind's Hall" — the latter a reference to Hind Rajab, a young Palestinian girl who was killed in Gaza in January.
Hours later, the university's public safety department announced what amounts to a lockdown of the campus...
From the Center
Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Columbia University buildingPro-Palestinian activists occupied a building at Columbia University early on Tuesday, escalating a battle with administrators who have begun suspending students for refusing to dismantle tents set up on the New York campus.
Protesters entered Hamilton Hall - the site of student protests dating back to the 1960s - and suspended a banner reading "Hind's Hall" from an upper floor. Others outside blocked the doors with outdoor tables and linked arms to form a barricade in front.
"This building is liberated in honor of Hind, a six-year-old Palestinian child murdered...
From the Right
Columbia Anti-Israel Protesters Smash Windows, Occupy Campus Building in Overnight EscalationAnti-Israel protesters at Columbia University took over a building on campus early Tuesday morning after the school began suspending students for refusing to disperse from the anti-Israel encampment set up on the campus quad last week.
Dozens of Columbia protesters occupied Hamilton Hall Tuesday and barricaded the entrances to claim the area as their own. Footage emerged on social media of protesters smashing windows and barricading themselves inside the building.
The protesters hung a sign that reads “Hinds Hall” from the building, commemorating the death of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed...
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May 20th, 2024