Clashes broke out between NYPD officers and demonstrators at New York University after police moved in to clear out an anti-Israel “liberated zone” set up by pro-Palestinian protesters late Monday amid reports of “antisemitic incidents,” the latest violence as unrest over the Israel-Hamas war spreads to campuses across the US.
Officers in riot gear scuffled with demonstrators, after the police began getting rid of equipment and arresting protesters for violating an order to disperse. Some of the protesters appear to act violently toward officers, with a masked man draped in a keffiyeh throwing a chair toward them.
Dozens of the protesters — including students and faculty — were arrested, according to local media reports.
The school said it warned the crowd to leave, then called in the police after the scene became disorderly and the university said it learned of reports of “intimidating chants and several antisemitic incidents.” Shortly after 8:30 p.m., officers began making arrests.
“It’s a really outrageous crackdown by the university to allow the police to arrest students on our own campus,” said New York University law student Byul Yoon. READ MORE