NYPD Disperses Pro-Palestine Protest at New York University After Assistance Sought

A police car drives through the Manhattan borough of New York City, on Jan. 14, 2021. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

An encampment set up by students at New York University (NYU) has been dispersed, and arrests were reportedly made after pro-Palestine protesters refused the school’s requests to leave the area.

According to a post on social media platform X on April 22, Kaz Daughtry, the deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department’s Security Operations Center, stated that NYU leadership contacted him via a letter regarding an ongoing protest in Gould Plaza.

In videos shared on social media, a large group of protesters is seen being dispersed by police.

“They were described as interfering with the safety and security of our community,” Mr. Daughtry said.

“Our officers responded to the location without delay and dispersed the crowd, making numerous arrests, as necessary.”

In the letter received from NYU, and shared by Mr. Daughtry, an unknown party informs him that the university tried to negotiate with the protesters. The situation escalated as more people joined the ranks, and protesters ignored repeated requests to leave the area.

“Following negotiations this morning, additional protestors breached our barriers in violation of our clear instructions, and we witnessed disorderly, disruptive, and antagonizing behavior that has interfered with the safety and security of our community,” the letter said.

“At this point, we consider all protesters occupying Gould Plaza to be trespassers, and we would like the NYPD to clear the area and take action to remove the protestors. In the event they refuse to leave, we request the NYPD take enforcement action accordingly, up to and including arrest.”

It’s unclear how many arrests have been made in connection to the protests or if any charges have been laid. According to Mr. Daughtry, the NYPD stands ready to address illegal actions and assist where needed.

“There is a pattern of behavior occurring on campuses across our nation, in which individuals attempt to occupy a space in defiance of school policy,” he said.

“Rest assured, in NYC the NYPD stands ready to address these prohibited and subsequently illegal actions whenever we are called upon.”

Campuses Become Hotbeds of Protesters

Protests have swept across college campuses in the United States and around the world since Israel and Hamas went to war. On Oct. 7 Hamas attacked southern Israel and killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Israel has since struck back, declaring war on Hamas and making incursions into the Gaza Strip. According to the local health ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, around 34, 000 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting began.

Pro-Palestinian protests recently have led to crackdowns at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

Nearly 50 students were issued summonses after they “did not comply” with multiple requests from Yale’s police department to show identification.

At the same time, Columbia University has canceled all in-person classes due to pro-Palestinian protests at the campus. In an April 22 statement, Columbia University president Minouche Shafik announced all classes would be held virtually as Passover begins, saying the decision was to “deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider the next steps.”

Pro-Palestinian students are demanding their schools condemn Israel’s assault on Gaza and stop doing business with companies that sell weapons to Israel. In contrast, Jewish students have expressed concern that the criticism of Israel has veered into anti-Semitism and made them feel unsafe.