Anti-Israel protesters on the campus of New York University formed a human chain Monday evening as police moved in to break up the demonstration. Video shot by Fox News Digital shows the NYPD telling students:
“New York University has warned you to leave the area.” The NYPD said those who did not leave soon would be arrested for trespassing. 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 4:00 pm. If you leave now, no one will face any consequences for today’s actions—no discipline, no police.”
Mass arrests began around 8:30 p.m. Within an hour, the demonstration had largely fizzled out. The university, like other campuses nationwide, has been embroiled in protests against Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
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.
