Columbia University Encampment
In the early hours of April 17, 2024, a group of Columbia University students erected tents on the university’s South Lawn in an act of protest. The student activists called on the university to cut financial ties with Israel, among other demands. Their actions inspired similar protests across American college campuses and abroad. Over the next 14 days, prominent intellectuals, activists and politicians visited the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” while counterprotestors marched and chanted outside of the university gates.
Shortly after midnight on April 30, a group of student activists occupied Hamilton Hall, the same building that Columbia students occupied in 1968 during the anti-Vietnam War protests on campus. After barricading themselves into the building, the protestors draped a Palestinian flag and a sign reading “Hind’s Hall,” a reference to Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who pleaded for medical help before dying in January. Later that evening, New York Police Department officers, including those from the police department’s Strategic Response Group, raided Columbia’s campus and arrested approximately 100 people at the request of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik. The officers also forcibly removed journalists, myself included, who were covering the raid.
When the protests broke out on Columbia’s campus, I was a Spencer Fellow at Columbia Journalism School. I was at work on an investigative project unrelated to the protests, but my attention soon shifted to the encampment and I picked up my camera. Below are some of the images I made during that time. Some of the photographs were published in The Associated Press, CNN, NPR, among other outlets.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Mich.) visits the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University on April 25, 2024.
Students deliver speeches and read in the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University on April 25, 2024.
A student reads a book in the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University on April 25, 2024.
White Christian nationalist and pro-Israel activists protest outside of Columbia University’s gates at Amsterdam Ave. and 116th St. on April 25, 2024.
White Christian nationalist and pro-Israel activists protest outside of Columbia University’s gates at Amsterdam Ave. and 116th St. on April 25, 2024.
Pro-Palestine activists protest outside of Columbia University’s gates at Amsterdam Ave. and 116th St. on April 25, 2024.
Pro-Palestine activists protest outside of Columbia University’s gates at Amsterdam Ave. and 116th St. on April 25, 2024.
White Christian nationalist and pro-Israel activists climb the gates of Columbia University on Amsterdam Ave. and 116th St. on April 25, 2024.
The “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University on April 25, 2024.
Columbia University students gather for a picket organized by the Student Workers Union (UAW Local 2710) on April 29, 2024, after Columbia University administrators began to suspend students in the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.” The student activists marched and chanted around the encampment in 80-degree weather while Columbia faculty protected its entrance.
Columbia University students gather for a picket organized by the Student Workers Union (UAW Local 2710) on April 29, 2024, after Columbia University administrators began to suspend students in the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.” The student activists marched and chanted around the encampment in 80-degree weather while Columbia faculty protected its entrance.
Columbia University students gather for a picket organized by the Student Workers Union (UAW Local 2710) on April 29, 2024, after Columbia University administrators began to suspend students in the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.” The student activists marched and chanted around the encampment in 80-degree weather while Columbia faculty protected its entrance.
Columbia University students gather for a picket organized by the Student Workers Union (UAW Local 2710) on April 29, 2024, after Columbia University administrators began to suspend students in the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.” The student activists marched and chanted around the encampment in 80-degree weather while Columbia faculty protected its entrance.
Columbia University students gather for a picket organized by the Student Workers Union (UAW Local 2710) on April 29, 2024, after Columbia University administrators began to suspend students in the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.” The student activists marched and chanted around the encampment in 80-degree weather while Columbia faculty protected its entrance.
Columbia University student activists on April 29, 2024.
Columbia University student activists and faculty stand outside of the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on April 29, 2024.
Columbia University students occupy Hamilton Hall in the early hours of April 30, 2024. This is the same building that Columbia students occupied in 1968, during the anti-Vietnam War protests on campus. After barricading themselves into the building, the protestors draped a Palestinian flag and a sign reading “Hinds Hall” — a reference to Hind Rajab, the 6-year-old Palestinian girl who pleaded for medical help before dying in January.
A Columbia University student tries to stop fellow students from occupying Hamilton Hall in the early hours of April 30, 2024.
Columbia University students occupy Hamilton Hall in the early hours of April 30, 2024.
Columbia University students occupy Hamilton Hall in the early hours of April 30, 2024.
Columbia University student activists following the occupation of Hamilton Hall in the early hours of April 30, 2024.
Columbia University student activists following the occupation of Hamilton Hall in the early hours of April 30, 2024.
Student activists sleep on the lawns after setting up another encampment in front of Lewisohn Hall at Columbia University on April 30, 2024, hours after the occupation of Hamilton Hall.
Student activists set up another encampment in front of Lewisohn Hall at Columbia University on April 30, 2024, hours after the occupation of Hamilton Hall.
Columbia University on April 30, 2024, hours after the occupation of Hamilton Hall.
A door at Hamilton Hall at Columbia University on April 30, 2024, hours after student protestors occupied the building.
Student activists sit outside of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University on April 30, 2024, hours after student protestors occupied the building.
New York Police Department officers set up barricades in front of a gate to Columbia University on 114th St. between Amsterdam and Broadway Aves. on Tuesday evening, April 30, 2024. Columbia University President Minouche Shafik authorized the NYPD to enter campus to dismantle encampments by Pro-Palestine students and to remove individuals occupying Hamilton Hall.
Students in the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on Columbia University’s West Lawn gather for a meeting on Tuesday evening, April 30, 2024 shortly before New York Police Department officers stormed the campus.
Pro-Palestine students occupy Hamilton Hall on Columbia University’s campus on Tuesday evening, April 30, 2024. The students locked arms, sang and chanted as they braced for New York Police Department officers to raid campus after Columbia University President Minouche Shafik called on the NYPD to dismantle encampments and remove individuals from Hamilton Hall.
Pro-Palestine students occupy Hamilton Hall on Columbia University’s campus on Tuesday evening, April 30, 2024. The students locked arms, sang and chanted as they braced for New York Police Department officers to raid campus after Columbia University President Minouche Shafik called on the NYPD to dismantle encampments and remove individuals from Hamilton Hall.
Pro-Palestine students occupy Hamilton Hall on Columbia University’s campus on Tuesday evening, April 30, 2024. The students locked arms, sang and chanted as they braced for New York Police Department officers to raid campus after Columbia University President Minouche Shafik called on the NYPD to dismantle encampments and remove individuals from Hamilton Hall.
Pro-Palestine students occupy Hamilton Hall on Columbia University’s campus on Tuesday evening, April 30, 2024. The students locked arms, sang and chanted as they braced for New York Police Department officers to raid campus after Columbia University President Minouche Shafik called on the NYPD to dismantle encampments and remove individuals from Hamilton Hall.
Officers with the New York Police Department raid Columbia University’s campus and disperse Pro-Palestine students and protestors occupying Hamilton Hall on Tuesday evening, April 30, 2024.
Pro-Palestine student activists face off with New York Police Department officers during the raid on Columbia University’s campus at the request of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik on Tuesday evening, April 30, 2024.
Officers with the New York Police Department raid Columbia University’s campus and disperse Pro-Palestine students and protestors occupying Hamilton Hall on Tuesday evening, April 30, 2024. The officers also removed journalists covering the raid from campus.
New York Police Department officers arrest Pro-Palestinian demonstrators and place them on buses on 114th Street and Amsterdam Avenue on Tuesday night, April 30, 2024.
New York Police Department officers arrest Pro-Palestinian demonstrators on 114th Street and Amsterdam Avenue on Tuesday night, April 30, 2024 as onlookers watch.