Anti-Israel protesters clashed with police officers at the City College of New York during a violent encounter outside the campus where an “intifada” encampment was constructed. The chaos erupted as protesters attempted to break through barricades to reach the tent city, with cops pushing demonstrators back to maintain their position. One man and a police officer exchanged shoves, while some protesters hurled garbage at the officers. The situation escalated as a swarm of officers arrived to make arrests, with one man hitting an NYPD officer on the head with a water jug before being wrestled to the ground and taken into custody.
The protests extended into the streets, with one individual filmed assaulting an NYPD officer with a water jug labeled “Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.” The encampment first appeared at the state-funded college on Friday, leading to tensions as rumors circulated that CUNY administrators were attempting to shut the rally down. The crowd of protesters grew after reports surfaced that the encampment would be cleared, with organizers warning that any attempts to shut down the demonstration would be met with anger. The quad was filled with tents, Palestinian flags, and signs calling for divestment from Israel in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Organizer Nerdeen Kiswani shouted to the crowd during a speech, declaring the encampment as the University Intifada and emphasizing the right to control where tuition money is allocated. It was unclear if all the protesters were affiliated with the school, but CUNY Professor James Hoff noted the presence of faculty and union members at the event. City College was on spring break until Tuesday, but President Vince Boudreau announced the closing of campus and the transition to remote classes due to the encampment, which he described as posing significant challenges. Boudreau acknowledged that this demonstration was more contentious and violent than any others seen on campus.
According to Boudreau, this demonstration is not solely a CCNY or even a CUNY event. The president expressed his hope for a peaceful resolution to the encampment and described the situation as a difficult moment for the CCNY community. As the protest continued, tensions escalated, leading to clashes with police and arrests. The protesters demanded divestment from Israel and highlighted their right to fight against oppression. CUNY4Palestine urged supporters to mobilize and gather at the encampment amid rumors of it being shut down, leading to an increase in the number of protesters causing chaos on campus.
The situation at City College of New York escalated as protesters clashed with police over the encampment, resulting in arrests and violence. President Boudreau announced the closure of campus and remote classes in response to the difficulties caused by the encampment. Tensions persisted as the protest continued, with demands for divestment from Israel and calls to fight against oppression. The demonstrations reflected a growing conflict and highlighted the challenges faced by the university community amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
