Anti-Israel Rioters Seize Building At Columbia, Create Barricades As Carnage Unfolds

A full blown riot appears to have kicked off early Tuesday morning at Columbia University in New York City.

The Ivy League school has been dealing with anti-Israel protesters for roughly two weeks, and so far, has failed to do much to deter them. University officials eventually made the decision to start suspending students in an unauthorized encampment designed to protest Israel's war against Hamas, but it appears the university is now on the run after losing control of a campus building.

Columbia University lost control of a campus building to rioters. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)

Hundreds of rioters seized control of Hamilton hall shortly after midnight and quickly began building barricades and "zip-tying doors shut," according to the student newspaper Columbia Spectator (via Fox News). Three campus employees were in the building when it was forcefully taken by rioters, and were eventually allowed to leave. One alleged he was held hostage as he left, according to the same Fox News report.

The rioters have three demands:

• Divest their financial support of Israel.
• Become more transparent with the university's investments.
• Blanket amnesty to students who have taken part in the disruptive, weeks-long demonstration.

Columbia University engulfed by anti-Israel riot.

It now appears a legit standoff is underway between rioters and university officials who have lost control of their own campus.

Stunning footage of the riot shows rioters taking the building by force, and renaming it after a young girl killed during the war against Hamas.

The riot and forceful seizure of the building comes after school officials and encampment members failed to negotiate an end to the chaos. Now, a major escalation has unfolded, and if the people running Columbia are smart, they'll demand any and all assets necessary to retake the building by any means necessary.

Everyone has a right to protest in America. People even have the right to think dumb things and be racist idiots. What nobody has a right to do is riot and seize property through force.

That can't ever be tolerated, and must be crushed with swift fashion.

Columbia University seems to be losing the battle to anti-Israel rioters. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)

Any official worth his salt would immediately send in the police and retake that building. By not doing it, the rioters learn they're the ones in control, and that will only lead to further escalation. Let me know what you think at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.