What’s Happening at NYU and Yale... Students Arrested in 'Pro-Pal' Protests Continue

On the night of the 22nd (local time), when Passover, the largest Jewish holiday, began, the New York Police Department (NYPD) eventually stormed New York University (NYU) in Manhattan to suppress students protesting for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip war. On the same day, police were seen escorting students with their wrists tied behind their backs during protests at Yale University in Connecticut. Earlier, Columbia University, where NYPD's campus entry and arrests sparked controversy, suspended in-person classes that day. Harvard University also firmly closed the main gate of Harvard Yard.

The New York Times (NYT) reported that conflicts triggered by the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas are spreading across American college campuses, compiling on-site photos from various campuses. In particular, the NYPD's forceful entry into Columbia University last week, arresting more than 100 students during protests calling for a ceasefire ahead of Passover, is analyzed as having ignited the spread of tent sit-in protests on campuses.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

On the morning Passover began, about 50 people were arrested at Yale University. They had recently set up tents around the campus square and were protesting, urging the Yale Board of Trustees to stop investing in weapons manufacturers supporting Israel. Even after some protesters were arrested at Yale, other students continued the demonstrations.

Chisato Kimura, a Yale Law School student, told the NYT, "The response to students exercising freedom of expression and participating in peaceful protests on campus is very chilling," criticizing, "Yale's response was to send police to arrest 50 students."

On the same day at NYU, clashes with police were confirmed during the suppression of pro-Palestinian protesters. Some videos released online showed police throwing down tents set up by students, restraining them with wrists tied behind their backs while lying on the ground, and forcibly escorting them into vehicles. The exact number of students detained has not been confirmed.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

These universities stated that they proposed to the protesters to remove the tents and engage in dialogue, but when the protesters did not comply, they requested police to disperse the demonstrations. Republican lawmakers have demanded the resignation of university presidents, holding them accountable for campus protests, and with police entering campuses to arrest and detain protesting students, campus conflicts have not easily subsided.

The NYT reported, "The most influential universities in the U.S. struggled to calm campuses torn apart by the Gaza Strip war but mostly failed," adding, "These arrests have sparked waves of protests on other campuses such as MIT, the University of Michigan, and Stanford University. Intense protests have posed serious challenges to university administrations as some Jewish students reported hearing anti-Semitic remarks." Currently, pro-Palestinian protests are also ongoing at Boston-area universities including Emerson College, as well as UC Berkeley and the University of Michigan.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

There are expectations that the wave of protests sweeping college campuses will not easily subside. The NYT predicted, "Options for administrators responding to protests are rapidly diminishing," and "It is almost certain that these protests will continue on some campuses until the end of the semester. Graduation ceremonies could also become contentious events." The South Field at Columbia University, where protest tents are currently located, is the venue for next month's graduation ceremony.

Columbia University, still feeling the aftermath of police suppression, decided to switch to online classes starting on the first day of Passover. Columbia President Nemata Shafik explained, "To calm the hatred and give all of us a chance to move forward to the next step."

However, some professors are pushing a vote of no confidence against President Shafik, arguing that her measures infringe on freedom of expression. On the same day, some Columbia faculty and staff participated in a strike supporting students who were previously arrested and suspended. Meanwhile, other professors raised their voices demanding measures to protect Jewish students.

Some Jewish students reportedly feel actual threats amid the spread of campus protests. Rabbi Eli Buckler of the Columbia University Jewish Association sent a message to about 300 Jewish students on campus that day, advising them to "stay home if possible." Outside Columbia's campus, pro-Israel protesters also gathered, creating a standoff situation.

President Biden, attending an Earth Day event in Virginia that day, told reporters, "I condemn anti-Semitic protests," and added, "I also condemn anyone who does not understand what is happening to Palestinians." However, there is significant criticism that labeling criticism of the Israeli government and military, which caused civilian casualties, and calls for a ceasefire as anti-Semitism is excessive.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.