Early this morning, pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University stormed the Hamilton building on campus, breaking a glass door to move their camp inside. The building, which had become a new center of demonstrations against Israeli military actions in Gaza, was once a historic site of protests against the Vietnam War and racism in 1968.
Columbia University President Nemat Minouche Shafik stated in a release that days of negotiations between student organizers and academic leaders had failed to convince protesters to remove dozens of tents set up to express opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza. Despite the efforts, Columbia began suspending student activists who refused to dismantle the encampment.
The escalation of tensions at universities across the country reflects a growing concern and activism surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Meanwhile, other unrelated content including online casino advertisements, roofing company updates, and various other entrepreneur profiles were mixed in with the news about the protests, indicating a cluttered and confusing combination of information in this online space.