Akm Shehabuddin Kisslu: The New York University officials asked police following the warning to the crowd to leave and says the scene has become disorderly. Police arrest dozens of protesters at NYU. The New York Police remove pro-Palestinian encampments from New York University and The New School campuses early Friday morning. Police said 13 people were arrested during the demonstration at NYU, and 43 were arrested later at The New School. Demonstrators have been asking for financial transparency, divestment from Israel and amnesty for those arrested during last week’s protest.
Dozens of officers showed up at NYU around 6 a.m., warning the roughly 60 people camped out on the school’s Greene Street Walkway to disperse or face arrest. Once their tents were removed, crews could be seen power washing sidewalks and using acetone to remove posters from lampposts.
The university had previously urged the group to leave the encampment, which started nearly a week ago in solidarity with other university protests around the world.
NYPD responded to University authority to protesters encampment from the campus.
The NYPD said it received a letter from NYU on Thursday requesting their help removing the encampment.
“NYU has requested our assistance to disperse the illegal encampment on their property,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry posted Friday morning on social media. “As per their request, we are on site and our officers will be assisting with the unparalleled professionalism embodied by our police officers.”
In a statement, the university said it asked for NYPD assistance because of the protesters’ unwillingness to leave, despite numerous requests and discussions, as well as growing safety concerns. The university said it was particularly concerned about protesters and counter-protesters being drawn to the site.
“No incidents. No one got hurt. The school’s happy we secured their school,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said.
About two hours after moving in on NYU, police surrounded The New School to clear similar encampments inside two buildings.
“I deeply regret having to do this,” the school’s interim president said in a statement. “My decision is about their conduct, not speech.”
The New School said they’ve been negotiating with students, but negotiations broke down.
The school said students blocked the entrance to a residence that housed 600 students and that left them no choice but to dismantle the encampments.
