NYPD officers went to two different universities Friday morning to remove anti-Israel agitators and break up demonstrations on campus.
Officers first cleared the NYU encampment, where they arrested several protesters and called in cleaning crews to remove tents and sweep up trash left by protesters. The NYPD was then called to take similar action at the New School in New York. After the operation, NYPD Sergeant John Chell told reporters that the NYPD acted “at the request of the school principal,” and that ultimately 56 people were arrested at both schools, but there were no incidents. Admitted.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry also told reporters that students and other protesters are occupying schools and school buildings, chanting anti-Semitic slogans, and resisting law enforcement and administrative authorities. He said there was “someone” or “some organization” behind the massive movement. A dispersal order is issued and they can escape with almost no repercussions.
“What I want to say is, as I said before, there is someone behind this movement,” Daughtry said. “There is some organization behind this movement, a level of organization that we are seeing both at these schools and at Columbia University.”
Police arrest thousands at US universities to clear anti-Israel protests and encampments
Anti-Israel demonstrations take place at various universities in New York City, and police arrest participants. (Spencer Pratt/Getty Images)
The deputy said officers had found a leaflet with “full details” given to protesters.
“We have flyers about protests, we have flyers about how to do civil disobedience, we have flyers about what to do when you get arrested, we have flyers about what to say to the police,” Daughtry explained.
He reiterated, “Someone is funding this. Someone is radicalizing our students.”
In a statement, the NYPD said “99%” of those arrested Friday were students. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
In his remarks, the police chief noted that “99%” of those arrested on Friday were students.
Next, Chell read a piece of literature that encouraged students to “occupy the occupier.”
“Please enter the transitional autonomous region from New York to Gaza,” said another resident. “Destroy, take back, destroy Zionist business interests everywhere.”
There was also an article titled “Long live the intifada.”
“So this is definitely the mindset of some of the people at these protests,” Chell added.
A flyer from an anti-Israel demonstration read, “Long live the intifada.” (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
The NYPD’s patrol chief also said responding officers gave the NYU protesters “peaceful departure” and “multiple options” to leave the scene without being arrested.
“The couple said, ‘I want to be arrested,'” Chell said. “And we said, ‘Okay.’
He also clarified that the operation was not an “attack” like the one experienced by demonstrators and demonstrators at the University of California, Los Angeles.
More than 2,000 protesters have been arrested at universities across the United States in recent weeks. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
“The presidents of both universities have asked in writing what they need and what they want. I wouldn’t call this a raid,” Chell said. “I like to call it the removal of children who were trespassing. That’s what I call it.”
More than 2,000 protesters have been arrested at universities across the country in recent weeks, including students, faculty, and outside agitators.
