The NYPD cleared out an anti-Israel encampment at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus after the university requested police assistance in removing the demonstrators. The protesters had set up the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” in response to the arrests of similar demonstrators at Columbia University and the City University of New York the previous night. The encampment began with around 30 protesters but had dwindled to about 12 throughout the day, with hundreds rallying outside the entrance.
Protesters who refused to leave were suspended and banned from the campus by the university. The university deemed the encampment a danger to persons and property and requested police assistance in clearing the individuals from the area. The university also requested a police presence on campus until the completion of commencement ceremonies on May 22. Despite the removal of the tents, graffiti reading “Free Palestine” and stickers calling for an end to genocide remained on the university’s main entrance.
During the protest, demonstrators taped a Palestinian flag to the wall and chanted slogans such as “Students, students, hold your ground. NYPD back down” and “Israel bombs, Fordham pays, how many kids did you kill today?” Tensions flared when the NYPD arrived and set up barriers outside the Lowenstein Center. Some protesters accused the police of being trained by Israel, leading to further confrontations. A bystander expressed disgust at the protesters, suggesting that they should go to Palestine or the Gaza Strip to understand the situation better.
The presence of the NYPD in riot gear and the removal of the encampment marked the end of the short-lived protest at Fordham University. The protest had been inspired by similar actions at other universities and aimed to show solidarity with Palestine. Despite the arrests and suspension, some protesters remained defiant and continued to resist leaving. The university’s decision to involve the NYPD in clearing the encampment further escalated tensions between the protesters and law enforcement.
The incident at Fordham University highlighted the ongoing tension surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the US. The protest and subsequent police intervention underscored the challenges of expressing political opinions on college campuses and the measures that universities may take to maintain order and safety. The removal of the encampment and the suspension of protesters raised questions about freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest on university grounds. Ultimately, the events at Fordham University reflected a broader national conversation about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ways in which it impacts communities and institutions in the US.
