Demonstrators supporting Palestinians in Gaza barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building which has been occupied in past student movements, on April 30, 2024 in New York City. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)
But on Monday night, a massive mob of anti-Israel students broke into an academic building — the iconic Hamilton Hall on the Manhattan campus — and barricaded its doors. A university facilities worker said the protesters "held me hostage."
Outside of Hamilton Hall, the anti-Israel agitators formed a human barricade by linking their arms and vowing to remain until the university meets their three demands.
The students are demanding the university divest from financial support of Israel, become more transparent with its investments, and provide blanket amnesty to the protesting students for any consequences.
Students at Columbia University took over Hamilton Hall, an academic used by the dean, and rebranded it, "Hind's Hall." (Getty Images/Alex Kent)
Trump has been criticized for his comments surrounding the incident, particularly his statement that there were good people on "both sides." Trump, at the time, also blamed "many sides" for the violence.
"Well, if the people that know Charlottesville, when you extend that statement, it’s a big hoax," Trump said Tuesday. "Charlottesville is peanuts compared to what you’re looking at now."
Trump said the entire country "is up in arms."
"Breaking into colleges, knocking the hell out of Columbia University, I mean — they took over the building. I know the building very well," Trump said. "They took over a building and that is a big deal."
Trump also questioned whether the students would be held accountable.
"I wonder what’s going to happen to them, or anything comparable to what happened to J6, because they’re doing a lot of destruction, a lot of damage, a lot of people are getting hurt very badly," Trump said, comparing the Columbia University protest to the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
ANTISEMITIC RIOT AT COLUMBIA REACHES BOILING POINT AS AGITATORS TAKE OVER ACADEMIC BUILDING, BARRICADE DOORS
Many who stormed the Capitol that day have been prosecuted.
A group of Columbia University students, advocating for Palestinians, access the iconic Hamilton Hall building as they gather to stage a demonstration at the campus in New York, United States on April 30, 2024. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The White House said "President Biden respects the right to free expression, but protests must be peaceful and lawful."
"Forcibly taking over buildings is not peaceful – it is wrong," Bates said. "And hate speech and hate symbols have no place in America."
Meanwhile, Columbia University Tuesday morning said it would remain closed.
Students at Columbia University broke into Hamilton Hall on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Getty Images/Alex Kent)
"The safety of every single member of this community is paramount. We thank you for your patience, cooperation and understanding," the statement read.
The lockdown came as an unruly mob of anti-Israel protesters broke into Hamilton Hall shortly before 1 a.m.
Last week, Trump blasted the university for its initial campus closure amid the encampment.
"Columbia should gain a little strength, a little courage and keep their school open."
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Trump’s comments came after students at Columbia University were instructed that classes had shifted to virtual or hybrid amid ongoing safety concerns stemming from the anti-Israel demonstrations on the campus.
"It’s crazy because that means the other side wins," Trump said Tuesday. "When you start closing down colleges and universities — that means the other side [wins.]"
Brooke Singman is a political correspondent and reporter for Fox News Digital, Fox News Channel and FOX Business.
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