Over 130 people were arrested during pro-Palestinian demonstrations at New York University (NYU) as student protests gain momentum across the United States amid the genocide in Palestine, where Israel has killed more than 34,000 people since October 7, 2023.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) reported that 133 people were arrested and later released after being issued court summons, as protests also escalate at Yale, Columbia University, and other campuses, as reported by AFP.
On Monday night, as the Passover holiday commenced, police began apprehending demonstrators at an encampment at NYU.
An NYU spokesperson explained that the decision to involve the police occurred after additional protesters, many of whom were not affiliated with NYU, breached the barriers surrounding the encampment, which “dramatically changed” the situation.
The spokesperson, in a statement on the school’s website, cited “disorderly, disruptive, and antagonising behavior,” along with “intimidated chants and several antisemitic incidents.”
The protests originated last week at Columbia University in New York, where a significant group of demonstrators established a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on campus grounds.
However, more than 100 protesters were arrested after university authorities summoned police to Columbia’s campus on Thursday, a move that appeared to escalate tensions and lead to a larger turnout over the weekend.
Late Monday, social media posts depicted pro-Palestinian Jewish students holding traditional seder meals within the protest areas on various campuses, including Columbia.
Similar demonstrations occurred at MIT, the University of Michigan, and Yale, where at least 47 individuals were arrested on Monday for refusing to disperse when requested.
