Columbia University, in New York, threatened to expel students who invaded one of the educational institution's buildings, Hamilton Hall, this Tuesday (30).
“We made it very clear yesterday that the work of the University cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who break the rules. Continuing to do so will have clear consequences,” university spokesman Ben Chang said in a statement.
“The protesters chose to escalate to an unsustainable situation – vandalizing properties, breaking doors and windows and blocking entrances – and we are following the consequences that we described yesterday”, he adds.
The statement further said that restoring order and security is the administration's top priority, noting that disciplinary actions are not political.
“This is about responding to the protesters’ actions, not their cause,” Chang said.
The university also said the demonstrations created disruptions on campus. Many Columbia students are heading into final exam week, which marks the end of the 2024 academic year in the United States.
“The disruptions on campus have created a threatening environment for many of our Jewish students and faculty and a noisy distraction that interferes with teaching, learning, and preparation for final exams, and contributes to a hostile environment that violates Title VI,” said the university statement.
Reaction from local authorities
Hundreds of New York Police Department officers are at the door of the Columbia University campus. While there is no official request from Columbia for police assistance, teams are preparing to move in as soon as the request is made by the university.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams warned that “external actors” were causing public safety concerns at protests around the university, and called on protesters to “leave the area now.”
“They are not here to promote peace or unity or allow a peaceful demonstration, but they are here to create discord and division,” Adams said.
“They are actively creating serious public safety issues at these protests. Maybe some of the students involved don’t understand what they’re involved in,” Adams said. “We ask all others violating Columbia’s order to leave the area and leave the area now.”
Adams said the city cannot wait until the situation becomes more serious, “it must end now.”
Half of the protesters are not part of the university
At least half of the protesters on the Columbia University campus are not affiliated with the university, a law enforcement official told CNN.
The number of protesters on campus ebbs and flows depending on what is happening, from 250 to 400 people, the official said.
Source: CNN Brasil
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