White House condemns takeover of Columbia University building, use of 'intifada' at college protests

Joey Garrison, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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WASHINGTON ― President Joe Biden's White House condemned the forcible takeover of a Columbia University academic building by pro-Palestinian protesters and the use of the term "intifada," as the Biden administration sought to push back against "antisemitic smears and violent rhetoric" as a part of college protests.

Protesters at Columbia overran Hamilton Hall early Tuesday morning, hours after the school announced it had begun suspending student demonstrators who refused to leave an on-campus encampment. Some protesters hung a banner down the building's exterior that read "INTIFADA," the Arabic word for uprising or rebellion.

"President Biden has stood against repugnant, antisemitic smears and violent rhetoric his entire life," Andrew Bates, a White House assistant press secretary, said in a statement. "He condemns the use of the term 'intifada,' as he has the other tragic and dangerous hate speech displayed in recent days."

The president respects the right to free expression, Bates added, "but protests must be peaceful and lawful."

"Forcibly taking over buildings is not peaceful – it is wrong. And hate speech and hate symbols have no place in America," he said.

More: Columbia protesters seize building as anti-war demonstrations intensify: Live updates

Pro-Palestinian student protestors and activists sit outside of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University in New York City on April 30, 2024. Demonstrators at Columbia University barricaded themselves inside a campus building early Tuesday, escalating a standoff with school officials as pro-Palestinian protests upend campuses across the United States.
Pro-Palestinian student protestors and activists sit outside of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University in New York City on April 30, 2024. Demonstrators at Columbia University barricaded themselves inside a campus building early Tuesday, escalating a standoff with school officials as pro-Palestinian protests upend campuses across the United States.

Columbia protesters are demanding the school halt investments with companies profiting from Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, and they want amnesty for students and faculty involved in the protest.

After taking over Hamilton Hall, protesters hung a flag with the words "Hinds' Hall," a tribute to Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed in Gaza during Israel's war against Hamas. Protesters barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall, which has a long history of student takeovers during protests at the Ivy League school.

Meanwhile, at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, in northern California, protesters seized control of Siemans Hall, an administrative building that includes the president's office, and renamed it "Intifada Hall." Thirty-five people were arrested at the school.

"The president believes that forcibly taking over a building on campus is absolutely the wrong approach. That is not an example of peaceful protest," John Kirby, a White House spokesman on national security matters, told reporters. "A small percentage of students shouldn't be able to disrupt the academic experience, the legitimate study for the rest of the student body."

Protests at Columbia and elsewhere have raised concerns of antisemitism after Jewish students said they were subjected to acts of hate, intimidation and harassment.

At the same time, Biden has faced increasing pressure from young voters and the left flank of his party over his support of Israel's war in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Contributing: Michael Collins, John Bacon and Eduardo Cuevas

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: White House condemns Columbia building takeover, 'intifada' rhetoric