Columbia Responds to Plans for a New Pro-Hamas Encampment on Campus

Yesterday we learned that pro-Hamas extremists at Columbia are planning to erect a new encampment on the school’s campus sometime today. Planning for the new encampment has been taking place in secret.

The coordinating meeting took place at a community center on Tuesday night in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood, approximately 12 miles from campus, according to screenshots of Signal messages from organizers and a person who was at the meeting…

More than 100 people were present at the gathering and all wore masks to conceal their identities, according to the person…

The student organizers did not introduce speakers by name and instead used Signal usernames and code names — including the beloved Pokémon “Squirtle” and words such as “butterfly” — to distinguish one another, according to the recording.

Organizers have also refrained from referring to the upcoming encampments as “encampments,” according to screenshots of Signal messages from the organizers and conversations with two people familiar with the planning for the protests. In writing, and verbally, participants have designated the encampments with a code name, the “circus.”

The circus sounds about right for this group of clowns. They plan to arrive on campus without their masks to avoid alerting security to what they are doing. The takeover of the campus quad is supposed to happen today but hasn’t so far.

Columbia caught wind of the report and put out a statement saying no new encampment would be allowed. Instead, they would be removed and anyone who refused to disperse could be arrested:

If encampments or tents are established on University property, Public Safety will take the following actions: 

• Public Safety will immediately take steps to remove tents or other structures and remove them from the area; 

• Access to affected areas will be restricted, and the University may implement additional restrictions to campus access; 

• Participants will be instructed to disperse. Individuals who refuse to disperse will be identified and sanctions, including potential removal from campus and possible arrest, may be applied.

Unless Columbia folds, this new encampment is not going to succeed. Indeed, the activists seem to be preparing for failure.

A form being dispersed by organizers and obtained by NBC tells participants to prepare for “prolonged jail time” and how emergency contacts can access their apartments or homes.

It’s possible the plans for today are being delayed by escalation taking place on another campus nearby. CCNY announced the creation of a “liberated zone” on campus today.

📣📣ALL OUT TO CCNY: Students have established the HILO AL FAQAAWI LIBERATED ZONE

DEMANDS:
1. DIVESTMENT
2. ACEDEMIC BOYCOTT
3. SOLIDARITY
4. DEMILITARIZATION
5. PEOPLE’S CUNY

Calling all NYC comrades to come out and support our students! SEE YOU ON THE QUAD NOW!!
🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/tBHdu5genD

— CUNY4Palestine (@Cuny4P) April 24, 2025

CUAD, the group behind Columbia protests/crimes was encouraging people to head over there. So was Within Our Lifetime.

BREAKING🚨 CUNY students have gathered on the quad at CCNY and are calling for public support outside the gates‼️🇵🇸

Head to 139th & Amsterdam to mobilize as the students rally inside‼️ pic.twitter.com/gAuN0Z121i

— Within Our Lifetime (@WOLPalestine) April 24, 2025

Things at the liberated zone were quiet at first.

NOW: CCNY Medical School campus appears to be closed after Pro-Palestine students announced that they set up a “Liberated Zone” inside.

Flier read “HILMI AL-FAQAAWI LIBERATED ZONE”

Video by @yyeeaahhhboiii2 @FreedomNTV [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/fj4DQST7OU

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 24, 2025

“From the river to the sea,” they chanted.

UPDATE: Supporters of the Pro-Palestine ‘Liberated Zone’ Encampment are gathered outside of CCNY gates in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/7ZIrQikWH8

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 24, 2025

NOW: Crowds gathered outside CCNY Medical School campus, after it was closed as Pro-Palestine students announced that they set up a “Liberated Zone” inside.

Flier read “HILMI AL-FAQAAWI LIBERATED ZONE” pic.twitter.com/r79gaJA2La

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 24, 2025

But it appears the liberate zone didn’t stay liberated very long as police cracked down and used pepper spray on the liberators.

🚨: Earlier this afternoon, NYPD pepper sprayed a group of anti-Israel agitators at the City College of New York, located just over a mile away from Columbia’s main campus. pic.twitter.com/MFDm4XfUP8

— Jessica Costescu (@JessicaCostescu) April 24, 2025

There is likely going to be more video from CCNY later plus there still could be another ring to this circus if the activists follow through on the plan to takeover Columbia’s campus. I’ll update this post later if there are any big developments. Until then, I guess we’re all just waiting.

The planned encampments at Columbia University are against the university policies. President @realDonaldTrump has made it clear, students who participate in antisemitic vitriol must be swiftly held accountable for their hate. I will be watching to see how the school’s…

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) April 24, 2025