A Columbia janitor who was “held hostage” by a mob that included a millionaire advertising heir says he fears for his job while criticizing the school for failing to protect him.
Mario Torres was one of several facility workers caught up in the violence when pro-Palestine protesters stormed Hamilton Hall on April 30.
The father of two had to fight his way out of the building and has been too scared to return to campus ever since.
“It all comes down to the school, it’s really not the fault of public safety even though I felt abandoned by them,” Torres told the Free Press.
‘The school could have done more to a) prevent this and b) be there for us when we needed them.
Columbia janitor Mario Torres, who was “held hostage” by a mob that included a millionaire advertising heir, says he fears for his job while criticizing the school for failing to protect him.
Torres (pictured) was one of several facility workers caught up in the violence when pro-Palestine protesters stormed Hamilton Hall on April 30.
The group was led by James Carlson, the 40-year-old son of millionaire advertising executives who lives in a four-story house in Brooklyn valued at $3.4 million.
“We don’t expect to go to work and be surrounded by an angry mob with ropes, duct tape, masks and gloves.”
His comments come as it emerged that Transport Workers Union head John Samuelsen slammed Columbia President Minouche Shafik by revealing plans to sue the institution for not involving police sooner.
“It’s up to them to protect their workforce and they didn’t do that,” Samuelsen said. political.
More than 100 protesters were arrested at Hamilton Hall last week after police in riot gear burst into the building through an upstairs window.
This included the group’s leader, James Carlson, the 40-year-old son of millionaire advertising executives who lives in a $3.4 million four-story house in Brooklyn.
Carlson, who also goes by the names Cody Carlson and Cody Tarlow, was arrested by the NYPD and charged with robbery and criminal trespass after breaking into Columbia’s Hamilton Hall and renaming it ‘Hind’ Hall.
The defendant, whom officials describe as “a senior figure in the anarchist world,” was also arrested for allegedly attacking a police officer during the violent G8 protests in San Francisco in 2005, according to the New York Post.
Torres revealed his terror when he allegedly came face to face with Carlson.
NYPD police officers dressed in riot gear burst through the window of a Columbia University building occupied by dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters to begin clearing them out.
Protesters at Columbia University broke windows, overturned furniture, and caused damage throughout Hamilton Hall amid their brief occupation.
Images and videos showed extensive damage to Hamilton Hall after protesters were cleared Tuesday night.
‘He had a Columbia hoodie on and I managed to rip that hoodie off of him and expose his face. I was freaking out. At that moment I’m thinking about my family. How was I going to get out? Through the window?’ He said.
Torres also noted that Hamilton Hall has historically been the target of student protests in the past.
He questioned why there wasn’t more security on campus around the historic hall.
‘They should have protected us a little more. Even when I left the building I didn’t see any public safety officers, why is that? We had to fight our way out,” he added.
‘They make people and other workers feel uncomfortable. They need to find another place to protest,” Torres said.
‘People don’t feel safe walking through a crowd to enter campus. That’s crazy, they’re there. Move them to another location.
He added that he is reluctant to get involved in politics for fear of reprisals.
‘Who is wrong or who is right is not the story. Whether I believe in what they do or not, I have nothing to do with it. Leave me alone,’ Torres said while explaining that the protests appeared to have been ‘financed.’
‘We find out who this paid agitator is. He’s worth millions, I’m not. “I don’t want to piss people off.”
Riot cops from the New York Police Department released dramatic video showing the moment they stormed Columbia University’s occupied Hamilton Hall.
About 100 protesters were arrested at Hamilton Hall during the raid, including Carlson, who was charged with robbery and criminal trespass.
Protesters forcibly took over Hamilton Hall last week and renamed it Hinds Hall in honor of six-year-old Hind Rajab. who was murdered along with her family by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Torres has not been able to work since the traumatic events and fears facing consequences for speaking out.
‘What worries me is that I haven’t gone to work since that happened, that I have a family to support, that this story will end, will Columbia retaliate to find a reason to fire me? Is someone going to come for me? he said.
‘I think they failed and I think that’s the bigger story. “They should have done more to protect us and they didn’t.”
TO GoFundMA contract has now been created for Torres to cover his legal fees and expenses.
“In a harrowing event that went viral from the Columbia University camp, a dedicated facility worker, Mario Torres, found himself in a heartbreaking situation that has since threatened his livelihood and well-being,” the GoFundMe states.
