Anti-Israel protesters armed with flares clashed with riot cops in ugly scenes outside New York University. Dozens of protesters were arrested during the clashes, as activists demanded that the university break ties with Israel amid the violence in the Middle East.
Police officers in riot gear took to the streets and handcuffed protestors with zip ties before they were led to police buses for booking. Desperate university staff linked arms to form a human barrier between the NYPD officers and the students protesting. Protests at the university began in solidarity with similar protests across the US, including at Columbia University.
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Later in the night, students and faculty officers waved Palestinian flags and held flares as they took to the streets. The demonstrators marched through New York’s Chinatown towards the NYPD headquarters. Protestors were originally part of a university “Gaza Solidarity” encampment protest that started Monday morning around 6 am.
Through an Instagram post, NYU officials told protestors to clear the campus’ Gould Plaza by 4 pm or face consequences. The statement read: “The one safety requirement we made was that no additional protestors could enter Gould Plaza. With the breach of the barricades early this afternoon, that requirement was violated, and we witnessed disorderly, disruptive, and antagonizing behavior that has interfered with the safety and security of our community.”
“We cannot tolerate people getting hurt. You will need to clear the plaza by 4pm. If you leave now, no one will face any consequences for today’s actions—no discipline, no police,” it continued.
Arrests for trespassing reportedly started around 8.30pm. Some protestors reportedly chanted: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and others stepped on the Israeli flag. Jewish students at the University have said that some of the criticisms about Israel have translated into antisemitic hate speech.
Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, made a comment to CNN about some of the protestors that are using hate speech. “At no time should we call for the destruction of anyone, should we call for violence towards anyone – that is not what protesting is about,” he said.
Universities in New York aren’t the only ones holding pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Others include Yale University, the University of Michigan, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
