NYPD cops descend on NYU anti-Israel protest and start arresting dozens of students and faculty members who set up ‘Gaza Solidarity’ camp to join with Columbia University rally

The NYPD arrested dozens of NYU students and faculty members who have been protesting demanding the university divests from any Israel-related holdings at a ‘Gaza Solidarity; encampment. 

Officers clad in riot gear used zip ties to detain protesters, marching them onto police buses after warnings to leave the area were ignored. 

The protest, involving hundreds, began at 6am with a group setting up tents at NYU’s Gould Plaza.

The numbers grew throughout Monday with hundreds of anti-Israel activists gathered by nightfall. 

It culminated in clashes with law enforcement over the university’s investment policies. 

Officers clad in riot gear used zip ties to detain protesters, marching them onto police buses after warnings to leave the area were ignored

Police in reiot

NYPD in riot gear set about moving student from NYU’s Gould Plaza 

In a statement on Instagram on Monday, New York University officials warned protesters to clear the plaza by 4pm or face consequences. Mass arrests began around 8:30pm

In a statement on Instagram on Monday, New York University officials warned protesters to clear the plaza by 4pm or face consequences. Mass arrests began around 8:30pm

Police intervene and arrested more than 100 students at New York University on Monday night

Police intervene and arrested more than 100 students at New York University on Monday night

Students could be seen gathering at the steps outside of NYU’s Stern School of Business earlier and appeared to be joined by some faculty members. 

Some protesters could be heard chanting, ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ – a slogan that many regard as a call to genocide. 

Others could be seen stepping on Israel’s flag. 

NYU’s head of security said that administrators ‘witnessed disorderly, disruptive and antagonizing behavior that has interfered with the safety and security of our community.’

The NYPD could be heard using a megaphone telling students: ‘You have been warned by New York University to leave the area.’ 

Those who did not leave soon, would be arrested for trespassing, NYPD said.

NYU’s Global Campus Safety posted on Instagram that protesters had breached the barriers set up at Gould Plaza, Fountain Walker.

‘The one safety requirement we made was that no additional protestors could enter Gould Plaza. With the breach of the barricades early this afternoon, that requirement was violated, and we witnessed disorderly, disruptive, and antagonizing behavior that has interfered with the safety and security of our community,’ the university said in a statement.

‘We cannot tolerate people getting hurt. You will need to clear the plaza by 4pm. If you leave now, no one will face any consequences for today’s actions—no discipline, no police.’

Police moved in and began tearing up the signs that had been left by the protestors

Police moved in and began tearing up the signs that had been left by the protestors 

A woman can be seen being dragged away by police after failing to ignore pleas to leave

A woman can be seen being dragged away by police after failing to ignore pleas to leave

At NYU, some protesters could be heard chanting, "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" – a slogan that many regard as a call to genocide

At NYU, some protesters could be heard chanting, ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ – a slogan that many regard as a call to genocide

Tents remained on the plaza after police managed to move the protestors on

Tents remained on the plaza after police managed to move the protestors on 

Chairs and tables are seen piled up in the wake of the chaos seen on Monday night

Chairs and tables are seen piled up in the wake of the chaos seen on Monday night

NYPD buses were brought in to move the protestors away from the area

NYPD buses were brought in to move the protestors away from the area 

Protestors are seen being moved on by police from the NYU campus

Protestors are seen being moved on by police from the NYU campus

A pro-Palestinian supporter, wearing a mask to hide his identity, can be seen being arrested

A pro-Palestinian supporter, wearing a mask to hide his identity, can be seen being arrested

Many protestors could be seen wearing Palestinian headscarfs while police moved in

Many protestors could be seen wearing Palestinian headscarfs while police moved in

Police turned out in force wearing body armor, helmets and riot gear for protection

Police turned out in force wearing body armor, helmets and riot gear for protection

Pro Palestinian students and faculty members of NYU occupy a plaza on campus and declare it a Gaza solidarity encampment on Monday

 Pro Palestinian students and faculty members of NYU occupy a plaza on campus and declare it a Gaza solidarity encampment on Monday 

The Palestinian flag could be seen flying in the wind alongside those of NYU

The Palestinian flag could be seen flying in the wind alongside those of NYU

Those protesting included both students an members of the the faculty

Those protesting included both students an members of the the faculty

Some Jewish students at the prestigious New York institution have reported feeling intimidated

Some Jewish students at the prestigious New York institution have reported feeling intimidated

A large group of demonstrators have established a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at NYU

A large group of demonstrators have established a ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ at NYU

In a statement on Instagram on Monday, New York University officials warned protesters to clear the plaza by 4pm or face consequences. 

Mass arrests began around 8:30pm.

The protests have pitted students against one another, with pro-Palestinian students demanding that their schools condemn Israel’s assault on Gaza and divest from companies that sell weapons to Israel. 

Some Jewish students, meanwhile, say much of the criticism of Israel has veered into antisemitism and made them feel unsafe, and they point out that Hamas is still holding hostages taken during the group’s October 7 invasion.

President Joe Biden on Monday said he condemned ‘the anti-Semitic protests.’

‘I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians,’ he told reporters, without further details

New York Mayor Eric Adams vowed that police would arrest anyone breaking the law.

‘At no time should we call for the destruction of anyone, should we call for violence towards anyone — that is not what protesting is about,’ he told CNN on Monday.

The protestors called for New York University to divest from Israel

The protestors called for New York University to divest from Israel

The protest began as early as 6am but by nightfall there were hundreds involved

The protest began as early as 6am but by nightfall there were hundreds involved

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators began their protest early on Monday morning

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators began their protest early on Monday morning

The protestors are calling for the university to divest from companies that have ties to Israel

The protestors are calling for the university to divest from companies that have ties to Israel

The protestors wore masks in order to hide their identities

The protestors wore masks in order to hide their identities 

The protest looked to have been well planned with hundreds of signs handed out

The protest looked to have been well planned with hundreds of signs handed out

The protestors were told to leave the area by 4:30pm but few paid attention to the request

The protestors were told to leave the area by 4:30pm but few paid attention to the request

Pro-Palestinian students and faculty of New York University, inspired by Columbia University, occupy a plaza on campus and declare it a Gaza solidarity encampment

 Pro-Palestinian students and faculty of New York University, inspired by Columbia University, occupy a plaza on campus and declare it a Gaza solidarity encampment

Students at New York University (NYU) continue their demonstration on campus in solidarity with the students at Columbia University to oppose Israel's attacks on Gaza

Students at New York University (NYU) continue their demonstration on campus in solidarity with the students at Columbia University to oppose Israel’s attacks on Gaza

Pro-Palestinian protesters have launched a wave of protests on campus condemning Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip

Pro-Palestinian protesters have launched a wave of protests on campus condemning Israel’s offensive on the Gaza Strip

Uptown, Columbia University canceled in-person classes. Elsewhere, dozens of protesters were arrested at Yale, while the gates to Harvard Yard were closed to the public on Monday.

The various actions followed the arrest last week of more than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had camped out on Columbia’s green, as schools struggle with where to draw the line between allowing free expression while maintaining a safe and inclusive campus.

In addition to the demonstrations at the Ivy League schools, pro-Palestinian encampments have sprouted up on other campuses, including at the University of Michigan, New York University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning, a Democrat from North Carolina who was visiting Columbia with three other Jewish members of Congress, told reporters after meeting with students from the Jewish Law Students Association that there was ‘an enormous encampment of people’ who had taken up about a third of the green.

The flags of Palestine and Lebanon are seen outside the Stern School of Business

The flags of Palestine and Lebanon are seen outside the Stern School of Business

Various signs were held aloft by those protesting on the NYU campus

Various signs were held aloft by those protesting on the NYU campus

Pro-Palestinian protesters have launched a wave of protests on campuses across the US

Pro-Palestinian protesters have launched a wave of protests on campuses across the US

The protestors made no mention of the dozens of Israeli hostages still in captivity in Gaza

The protestors made no mention of the dozens of Israeli hostages still in captivity in Gaza

More than a dozen tents were pitched and tables were stocked with supplies of clothes and food

More than a dozen tents were pitched and tables were stocked with supplies of clothes and food

Pro Palestinian students set up tents suggesting they were not going to be moving any time soon

Pro Palestinian students set up tents suggesting they were not going to be moving any time soon

The protestors called for New York University to divest from Israel

The protestors called for New York University to divest from Israel

The crowd began to grow throughout Monday until NYPD finally moved in to make arrests

The crowd began to grow throughout Monday until NYPD finally moved in to make arrests

Some of the protestors wrote messages on the walls of the campus

Some of the protestors wrote messages on the walls of the campus

A large group of demonstrators has established a 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment' on a central lawn at Columbia University

A large group of demonstrators has established a ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ on a central lawn at Columbia University

Days of pro-Palestinian protests have roiled New York's prestigious Columbia University

Days of pro-Palestinian protests have roiled New York’s prestigious Columbia University

Universities have become the focus of intense cultural debate in the United States since the October 7 Hamas attack and Israel's overwhelming military response to it

Universities have become the focus of intense cultural debate in the United States since the October 7 Hamas attack and Israel’s overwhelming military response to it

For the fifth day, pro-Palestinian students occupy a central lawn on the Columbia University campus

 For the fifth day, pro-Palestinian students occupy a central lawn on the Columbia University campus

Police officers stand in front of the entrance of Columbia University which is occupied by pro-Palestine protesters in New York on Monday

Police officers stand in front of the entrance of Columbia University which is occupied by pro-Palestine protesters in New York on Monday

Pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University spent their fifth day demanding the school sever financial ties with key US ally Israel

Pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University spent their fifth day demanding the school sever financial ties with key US ally Israel

Officers could be seen with zip ties ready to be used during the arrest of students

Officers could be seen with zip ties ready to be used during the arrest of students 

‘We saw signs indicating that Israel should be destroyed,’ she said after leaving the Morningside Heights campus.

A woman inside the campus gates led about two dozen protesters on the street outside in a chant of, ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!’ – a charged phrase that can mean vastly different things to different groups. Meanwhile, a small group of pro-Israel counter demonstrators protested nearby.

University President Minouche Shafik said in a message to the school community Monday that she was ‘deeply saddened’ by what was happening on campus.

‘To deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider next steps, I am announcing that all classes will be held virtually on Monday,’ Shafik wrote, noting that students who don´t live on campus should stay away.

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