# Pro-Palestinian Protest at NYU Leads to Over 100 Arrests
New York City, NY
– More than 100 people were arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest at New York University (NYU) on Monday night, as similar demonstrations and arrests took place at college campuses across the country. The NYU protest followed last week’s demonstrations at nearby Columbia University, which also resulted in more than 100 arrests.## NYU Protest
The NYU protest was organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and other student groups. Protesters gathered outside the Stern School of Business, where they set up tents and chanted slogans condemning Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza. Police were called to the scene after protesters began throwing rocks, chairs, and water bottles at officers. Police responded by using pepper spray and batons to disperse the crowd.
## Arrests
According to the NYPD, 120 people were arrested during the protest. All but four of those arrested were released with summonses for trespass. The remaining individuals received desk appearance tickets for charges that included trespass, resisting arrest, and obstructing government administration.
## Police Response
The NYPD commended responding officers for their professionalism, but accused some NYU faculty members of creating trouble for the police. NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard said that the majority of the protesters were not violent, but there were possibly “professional agitators” who were “just looking for something to be agitated about.”
## NYU’s Response
NYU has publicly admonished the demonstrators, accusing them of carrying out an hourslong demonstration on private property without advanced notice or authorization and in a way that was disruptive to classes and other school operations. NYU spokesperson John Beckman said that after repeatedly refusing to leave, “there were intimidating chants and several antisemitic incidents reported.”
## Other Protests
Similar pro-Palestinian protests took place at college campuses across the country, including at the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Michigan, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At UC Berkeley, students set up an encampment to protest the war in Gaza. At the University of Michigan, protesters blocked the entrance to a building where an Israeli official was speaking. And at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, protesters marched through campus chanting slogans in support of Palestine.
## Background
The protests come amid heightened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians following Israel’s recent airstrikes on Gaza. The airstrikes have killed more than 33,000 Palestinians and injured more than 75,000 others, according to the International Rescue Committee. Protesters are demanding that their schools condemn Israel’s assault on Gaza and sever ties with companies that sell weapons to Israel.
