Legislators Demand Action After Campus Protests
A bipartisan group of nine legislators from New York City and the state is pushing for immediate action following a chaotic protest on campus that resulted in over a dozen arrests. The protests, described as anti-Israeli, escalated into confrontations with police on Thursday.
“This is completely unacceptable. Even two years after October 7th, after numerous investigations into CUNY and various hearings, we’re still facing destructive and criminal conduct targeting Jewish students,” one of the legislators expressed.
The letter highlighting these concerns was spearheaded by Councillor Inna Vernikov and signed by eight other legislators, including both city councillors and state assembly members.
The unrest began around 4:50 PM when a group attempted to set up a tent camp at the Bedford Avenue campus amid finals week for students.
A spokesperson from Brooklyn College stated, “The protesters erected a tent in violation of university policies.” Additional warnings were issued before campus safety and NYPD intervened to dismantle the tent and disperse the crowd.
“The welfare of our campus community is our top priority, and while Brooklyn College respects the right to protest, we have strict regulations to ensure our universities operate safely and without obstruction,” they continued.
The NYPD arrested at least 14 individuals during the fracas, though the lawmakers noted that police had waited “hours” before intervening to disperse the crowds on campus.
Retired state Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Lipman conducted a detailed investigation into rising anti-Semitism within CUNY schools, which continued for ten months last year. Findings indicated that some state school faculty may inadvertently fuel anti-Semitic sentiments, raising the need for significant systemic changes.
On Thursday, one lawmaker observed instances where anti-Israeli protesters shouted, “We don’t want Zionists here,” which included participation from a staff member named Zeno Wood, listed as a piano technician at the college. Wood did not respond to requests for comment.
The letter from the legislators demands further investigation into faculty involvement in the protests and calls for consequences for those allegedly complicit in misconduct.
The group also highlighted the recent unrest at Columbia University, where a similar protest led to the arrest of 80 individuals, prompting numerous suspensions among students involved.
Furthermore, the legislators requested enhanced security measures for Hillel House, the Jewish community center on campus, and urged the suspension of facial coverings across the CUNY system, allowing police immediate access during disruptions.
The legislators expect a response to their letter by the end of business on Monday.
Vernikov has taken her demands a step further, urging the Chancellor to resign if these issues aren’t addressed. “We have to put an end to the chaos that has overtaken our campus. It’s time for accountability,” she articulated.
This situation at Brooklyn College unfolded just a day after other protests at Columbia University, which involved masked individuals and chaotic scenes, highlighting the growing tensions on campuses. Columbia recently agreed to comply with federal requests to mitigate anti-Semitism, on the brink of losing substantial funding.
