US campus arrests grow to 2,300 in pro-Palestinian protests
New York, May 3: Police ordered pro-Palestinian protesters to clear out of a tent encampment at New York University early Friday, a move that follows weeks of demonstrations and police confrontations at college campuses nationwide that have resulted in more than 2,300 arrests.
About a dozen protesters who refused police orders to leave were arrested and about 30 more left voluntarily, according to NYU spokesperson John Beckman. The action, which began at about 6 am at the request of school officials, was conducted “to minimise the likelihood of injury” or the spread of disruption, Beckman said.
Classes will proceed as scheduled on Friday, he said. A larger NYU encampment was dismantled on April 22 and more than 130 protesters were arrested.
Officers from the New York Police Department also moved in to clear a similar encampment at The New School in Greenwich Village on Friday. At least two buildings were closed and students were unable to get in for classes. Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry posted on X that The New School “has requested our assistance to disperse the illegal encampments inside their university centre building and residence hall.” Video posted by Daughtry showed dozens of helmeted officers massed outside the school on lower Fifth Avenue. No details on arrests at The New School were immediately released. Messages seeking comment were sent to the school.
Meanwhile, at the State University of New York at New Paltz, police said 133 people were arrested Thursday night as a pro-Palestinian encampment was broken up. University president Darrell P. Wheeler said administrators had hoped to avoid the removal, but it became necessary.
“The present encampment has increased in size since its inception,” Wheeler wrote in a message to the college community. “It is displacing other student groups who have equal rights to use that space.” Officers wearing face shields and carrying batons dragged away protesters who were seated with their arms locked. A crowd chanted, “Let them go! Let them go!” according to videos posted on social media.
At the University of Tennessee, nine people, including seven students and two people who weren’t affiliated with the school, were arrested Thursday night after a group gathered on the law school lawn in violation of university policy did not leave after a 9 p.m. deadline, the university said.
All nine received citations and were released, Chancellor Donde Plowman said in a statement Friday morning. (PTI)