May 3rd 2024.
On Friday, the police in Los Angeles took action to disperse the protesters who had been camping at New York University for several weeks. This was just one of the many protests happening at college campuses across the country in support of Palestine. The number of arrests has reached almost 2,200.
Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry shared on social media that the university had requested police assistance in removing the illegal encampment on their property. He also mentioned that the police were already on the scene, but there is no information yet on any arrests. A spokesperson for NYU has not commented on the situation.
Earlier in the week, more than 100 people were arrested during a crackdown at Columbia University, where the protests first began. During the operation, one officer accidentally discharged his gun inside Hamilton Hall, where the protesters were camped. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the incident is currently under review by the district attorney's office.
According to the Associated Press, there have been at least 56 incidents of arrests at 43 different colleges and universities since April 18. These numbers are based on reports from the AP, as well as statements from the schools and law enforcement agencies.
In the early hours of Thursday, police moved in to arrest demonstrators at the University of California, Los Angeles. Despite orders to leave, some protesters formed human chains and refused to budge, resulting in the arrest of over 200 people. The police had to dismantle the fortified encampment, which consisted of barricades made from plywood, fences, and dumpsters, as well as tents and canopies.
Similar tent encampments have popped up at other universities, as students call for their schools to cut ties with Israel and companies that support the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Israel has labeled these protests as antisemitic, while critics say this is just a tactic to suppress opposition. Although there have been instances of antisemitic remarks and threats made by some protesters, the organizers, including some who are Jewish, insist that this is a peaceful movement to defend Palestinian rights and protest the war.
President Joe Biden has defended the right to peaceful protest, but has also expressed concern over the disorder that has occurred in recent days.
The protests at Columbia University began on April 17, with students demanding an end to the Israel-Hamas war, which has resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. In response, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza, after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took hostages in an attack on southern Israel.
The NYPD initially cleared out the encampment at Columbia on April 18, but the protesters set up new tents and continued to demonstrate. On Tuesday, they escalated their actions by occupying Hamilton Hall, a building that was previously seized by students protesting against racism and the Vietnam War in 1968.
The police forcefully entered the building after about 20 hours, using zip ties and riot shields. Video footage shows the police entering through a second-floor window, and according to the NYPD, the officer's gun went off about 10 minutes after they entered. The department has not released the name of the officer, and the incident is currently being investigated.
The situation at UCLA also unfolded over several days this week. The university's chancellor, Gene Block, explained that the trouble began after a pro-Israel rally was held on campus on Sunday, during which fights broke out and live mice were thrown into the pro-Palestinian encampment. In the following days, the administrators attempted to find a peaceful solution, but on Tuesday night, counter-demonstrators attacked the encampment. The delayed response from campus administrators and police drew criticism, and an independent review has been promised.
By Wednesday, the encampment had become even more fortified, and the decision was made to dismantle it. The police warned the protesters through loudspeakers that they would be arrested if they did not disperse. Many left voluntarily, but over 200 people had to be arrested.
Other protest encampments at universities across the country have also been cleared by the police, leading to more arrests, while others have reached agreements to avoid disruption during commencement ceremonies. The situation has also been resolved at Northwestern University, Rutgers University, and Brown University through compromises.
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