Student protesters at Columbia University said Tuesday morning that they had taken over a building near the campus’ South Lawn, raising fears of further unrest at the Ivy League institution. Hours earlier, the university began suspending students who refused to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus.
A statement posted by student groups on Instagram said protesters had “taken matters into their own hands,” adding that students planned to stay in Hamilton Hall until Columbia financially divests from Israel. A video shared by the group showed lines of students entering the building, holding up barricades. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the situation.
