The New York City Police Department (NYPD) donned riot gear to dismantle a pro-Palestinian encampment set up at New York University (NYU) on April 22, leading to several arrests.
This action followed a large walkout by Columbia University faculty members on Monday in support of students detained during a pro-Palestinian demonstration last week. The protesters are demanding that NYU withdraw from investments tied to Israel due to the ongoing violence in Gaza.
NYU students joined a growing movement of students across the country in establishing tent encampments on campus grounds, calling for their schools to divest from Israel and a ceasefire in Gaza. Nearly 50 people were arrested at Yale on Monday morning, following the arrest of over 100 protesters at Columbia University last week.
NYU faculty members showed solidarity by forming a human shield between a crowd of police and student protesters, linking arms and standing shoulder-to-shoulder.
The encampment organized by pro-Palestinian activists has become a significant concern for the government, particularly as elections approach. The protests have spread to major IT companies like Google and top universities such as Columbia, Yale, and NYU.
Campus Safety Director Fountain Walker issued a statement after metal barriers erected in front of Gould Plaza were reportedly destroyed. He warned protesters that they faced consequences if they did not vacate the encampment, but the protests continued with both faculty and students determined to stand their ground.
The tents were set up by students on Monday morning in front of NYU’s Gould Plaza, on the city’s west 4th Street, and were subsequently dismantled by police officers.
