The New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested over 100 New York University (NYU) students and faculty members on campus on Monday. The arrests stem from an ongoing protest against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The protesters had set up an encampment on Gould Plaza, within the NYU campus, on Monday morning. The NYPD ordered the protesters to disperse, warning that they would be arrested for trespassing. Faculty members formed a chain between the cops and the students to protect them from arrest.
The NYPD proceeded to take down the tents erected by the students and arrested the protesters for disorderly conduct. The university had warned the protesters earlier that they would face consequences if they refused to leave the encampment.
The university had erected metal barriers over the weekend to prevent the protest from growing in size, but NYU spokesperson John Beckman claimed that protesters not affiliated with the college had breached them. Beckman said the situation had changed dramatically, leading to disorderly behavior that interfered with the safety and security of the community.
NYU also reported several antisemitic incidents since the start of the demonstration but declined to offer details.
The arrests are part of a surge in protests against Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign in Gaza. More than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had camped out on Columbia’s green were arrested last week. Similar encampments have sprouted up at universities around the country, raising questions about the balance between free expression and maintaining safe and inclusive campuses.
