NEW YORK (PIX11) — The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has sparked protests at universities around the city, with tensions escalating as demonstrators voice their support for Palestine.
Protests continued at Washington Square Park Tuesday, where dozens of NYU students and pro-Palestinian protesters staged a walkout, showing their solidarity for Gaza as the war in the Middle East intensifies. As PIX11 crews attempted to speak with demonstrators, organizers instructed them not to engage with the press or police.
Tuesday's rally came just a day after at least 120 people were arrested during a protest at NYU’s Gould Plaza on Monday, according to NYPD. An NYU spokesperson said the demonstration was “disorderly, disruptive, and antagonizing.”
The spokesperson released a statement saying:
“We will continue to support individuals’ right to freedom of expression, and, as we have said since October, the safety of our students and maintaining an equitable learning environment remain paramount.”
The perimeter of the Gould Plaza is now boarded up and closed to everyone including students, according to sources. Still, pro-Palestinian supporters are not letting the campus crackdown deter them from making their voices heard.
This past week, protests were seen at The New School, where students set up an encampment in the school lobby. At Columbia University, over 100 students were suspended after being arrested at a protest last Thursday. At Yale University, 60 people were arrested after refusing to leave an encampment on campus.
As NYU students find themselves navigating an atmosphere of heightened emotions, some are left feeling a bit uneasy.
“I should be able to walk around feeling confident,” said Jewish NYU student Natalie, who did not want to give her last name. “I should be able to walk around going to class, feeling ready and excited to learn. Feeling excited to collaborate with my fellow students. I should feel that way and I don’t feel that way.”
Demonstrators have exclaimed on social media that the more they feel they are being silenced, the louder they will be.
