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Mario Torres, a custodian at Columbia University, was trapped by pro-Palestinian protesters during an anti-Israel demonstration at Hamilton Hall. In his first on-camera interview, Torres expressed his fear and desire to escape, highlighting his primary concern for his family's safety. He criticized the university for not doing enough to protect the workers, feeling abandoned as the protesters, described as an 'angry mob', used intimidating tactics like rope, duct tape, and masks. Torres, who has worked at Columbia for five years, recounted the traumatic experience and his struggle to maintain his livelihood amidst the chaos. The incident has led to other custodians speaking out and a union lawsuit against the university for failing to ensure their safety.
During last week's protest at Columbia University, an image went viral of a custodian fighting back against the "angry mob" of demonstrators who succeed in briefly taking over Hamilton Hall. https://t.co/JayScFDntQ https://t.co/c9UnnCUpqR
āHeās just a guy who wants to have a good job, provide for his familyāhe never expected to be in the spotlight.ā @FrancescaABlock speaks to @DanaPerino about The FPās exclusive interview with the @Columbia custodian swarmed by an anti-Israel protest mob. Read her full report:ā¦ https://t.co/iomkKRmCSL
Maintenance workers were inside Hamilton HallĀ at ColumbiaĀ UniversityĀ whenĀ pro-PalestinianĀ protestersĀ took over the building.Ā It was frightening, the workers said, and they wondered why the schoolĀ failed to stop it.Ā https://t.co/ZVPPCE1tZw
āLet me out! Iām a worker!ā More Columbia custodians tell The FP they are left ātraumatizedā after masked protesters held them hostage inside a campus building by using chairs, vending machines, chains, and zip ties to block exits. š§µ https://t.co/0xmfAZcllr
āIt felt like they didnāt even care. They were just worried about the protestersādonāt hurt the protesters. What about the safety and security of the workers?ā More Columbia custodians speak out to The FP as their union prepares to sue the university: https://t.co/b8dbYHVEaq
āI Could Have Been Killed in Thereā @FrancescaABlock: Two more Columbia custodians tell The FP about the night that left them ātraumatized.ā Their union is now suing. https://t.co/b8dbYHVEaq
āHe had a Columbia hoodie on, and I managed to rip that hoodie off of him and expose his face.ā Exclusive: @FrancescaABlock speaks to the custodian who tried to stop the protester later charged with felony burglary and reckless endangerment. https://t.co/ueKsoE8Ow7
Columbia janitor trapped by āangry mobā speaks after slamming ātrust-fund babyā protester https://t.co/LOgDCYTdvM via @BIZPACReview
āMario Torres has worked at Columbia for five yearsā¦Torres describes the experience of being on duty as protesters stormed the buildingā¦āI was freaking out. At that point, Iām thinking about my family. How was I gonna get out? Through the window?āā https://t.co/o3QkQofeXB
āThe school could have done more to prevent thisā¦ We donāt expect to go to work and get swarmed by an angry mob with rope and duct tape and masks and gloves.ā EXCLUSIVE: Mario Torres, the Columbia custodian whose confrontation with protesters went viral, sits down for his firstā¦ https://t.co/7lILsqTxxt
āI donāt want to get into why theyāre protestingāwho's wrong or who's rightā¦ I donāt care what they want. Leave me aloneā¦ Someoneās funding themā¦ someoneās got deep pockets... So I donāt want to touch that situation at all.ā In exclusive first: Columbia custodian Marioā¦ https://t.co/xB7mROszW7
'Swarmed by an Angry Mob': Custodian at Columbia University Speaks Out to The Free Press https://t.co/CTTYbqgg74
āI was freaking out. At that point, Iām thinking about my family. How was I gonna get out? Through the window?ā @Columbia protestors claim to care about peopleās rights, but harassed the one working-class guy in the building they āoccupied.ā https://t.co/uWnKoR0ytU
āThatās the bigger story. They failed us. They should have done more to protect us, and they didnāt.ā Exclusive: @FrancescaABlock speaks to the Columbia janitor who was trapped by an āangry mobāāand now fears for his livelihood: https://t.co/ueKsoE8Ow7
Columbia Custodian Trapped by āAngry Mobā Speaks Out https://t.co/3v90j3wV0X
āI want to get out. Thatās the only thing youāre thinking of is getting out.ā EXCLUSIVE: Mario Torres, the Columbia custodian trapped by student protesters, sat down for his first on-camera interview with our own @FrancescaABlock. Full story: https://t.co/ueKsoE8Ow7 https://t.co/f4BcXFYVRG