About 100 people were detained at a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus of Northeastern University in Boston on Saturday morning, according to university officials.
The university said its police department, with help from local authorities, began clearing “an unauthorized encampment” on campus early in the morning.
“What began as a student demonstration two days ago was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern,” the university said in its statement. statement about X. “Last night, the use of virulent anti-Semitic slurs, including ‘Kill the Jews,’ crossed the line. We cannot tolerate this type of hate on our campus.”
Video circulating online appears to show the statement made by a counter-protester holding an Israeli flag, which was met with boos from other protesters on campus. It is unclear whether the person who said the anti-Semitic phrase was among those arrested.
The main student organization behind the protest, Huskies for a Free Palestine, or HFP, called the government’s statement “false narratives” and accused the government of insinuating that the phrase was said by pro-Palestinian protesters and of using it ” as justification for arresting more than 100 northeastern teachers, workers and students.”
University spokeswoman Renata Nyul said, “Such language has no place on any university campus,” regardless of context.
The university said that of the approximately 100 people detained by police, the students “who presented a valid northeastern identity card were released”.
“They will face disciplinary proceedings within the university, not legal action,” the statement said. “Those who refused to reveal their affiliation were arrested.”
Videos posted on HFP’s Instagram showed what the group says were students being arrested. Police officers in riot gear could also be seen in videos on campus.
“Why are you in riot gear? I don’t see any riots here,” protesters could be heard chanting at the officers, along with, “Who do you serve? Who do you protect?”
In other videos posted on HFP’s Instagram, protesters chanted: “Free Palestine, free” and “Disclose, divest. We will not stop, we will not rest.”
HFP shared a message to the administration on Instagram about the arrests, which the group says were mostly non-violent students.
“We sincerely hope that the university administration in the Northeast is aware. You can arrest peaceful protesters. But they CANNOT stop the movement,” the statement said. “We are students against genocide and we always will be. Your intimidation will never change that.”
The student group said it is participating in the protest because Northeast “refuses to even address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis that the genocide against the Palestinians has created” and “refuses to cut ties with weapons manufacturers who do business with the Israeli military.” , according to its report. Instagram.
The HFP demands that the university disclose its current financial investments, divest from all Israeli and other companies that profit from the war in Gaza and “denounce Israel’s genocide in Palestine and call for an immediate ceasefire”, as well as the end of occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel.
Northeastern University is one of dozens of universities in the U.S. and Canada where students are protesting for Palestinian human rights after months of war in Gaza, including Columbia, the University of Southern California and Emory.
Students participating in protests on college campuses across North America have similar demands to those of the HFP, including divestment from companies that could be profiting from the war and transparency from university administrations about where they are investing their money.
On Friday, Portland State University President Ann Cudd announced that the institution will pause receiving “any other gifts or grants” from Boeing after receiving a letter signed by community members. The university’s Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights accused Boeing of being “complicit in the occupation and genocide in Palestine,” according to a report. publish on your Instagram account. A Boeing spokesman said the company had no comment.
Many universities have said they support free speech and allow protests, but that the camps violate school policy. On Saturday, dozens of people were arrested at other colleges that cracked down on the camps.
At Arizona State University, 69 people were arrested and charged with trespassing in connection with setting up a camp, according to a university spokesperson. The school said the camp was established by people who were not university students, faculty or staff, and who refused instructions to disperse.
Police arrested 23 people at Indiana University on Saturday after protesters were warned to remove tents or other structures that violated university policies. Those who failed to do so were “detained and removed,” the university said. Those arrested face charges ranging from criminal trespass to resisting law enforcement. It is unclear whether they are affiliated with the university.
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