NEW YORK — Hundreds of protesters rallied at New York University in support of the Palestinians on Monday.
Police moved into an encampment at Gould Plaza, near the Stern School of Business, shortly after 8:15 pm and began taking down tents and making arrests. Chopper 2’s Dan Rice reported that at least two dozen protesters were herded into four police buses. While this was happening, protesters began throwing objects in the direction of police officers.
After the police moved in, many protesters moved to a location on West 3rd Street in Greenwich Village, not far from the Stern School of Business. Others, carrying signs, began marching peacefully in Lower Manhattan.
Earlier in the day, students took to the school steps and were also joined by what appeared to be some faculty members.
Several pro-Palestinian organizations gathered in solidarity. They also set up the aforementioned tents.
New York University officials said there was a breach in the barriers set up there. The security chief said: “We witnessed disorderly, disruptive and antagonistic behavior that has interfered with the safety of our community.”
Protesters say they want their demands met.
Protesters were ordered to clear the square area by 4 p.m.
“We want our university to recognize that a genocide is occurring and that there are Palestinian students who deserve to feel heard, who deserve to feel safe in their environment, and who deserve to have a university that denounces the genocide of their people,” one said.
“It’s definitely helpful to see that there are a lot of people from our school who support the movement and aren’t afraid of our school’s response,” said another.
Across the street from the demonstration was a group standing with the Israeli flag. One of them only had one thing to say.
“There is a side here and a side to the story. This is the right side. That’s all I have to say,” the person said.
Jenna Deangelis