Quick Hit:

Over 100 students at New York University were arrested overnight as Palestinian protests spread to other college campuses across the northeast and around the country.

Key Details:

• The NYPD detained over 100 students at NYU for protesting against Israel's Gaza operations, echoing actions taken at Columbia, where over 100 students were also arrested for taking part in a protest.
• Columbia University canceled classes, and barricades were erected at NYU to control protest activities, amid widespread reports of antisemitism.
• Similar protests and encampments have appeared at universities across the U.S., including Berkeley, MIT, and Emerson, as students express solidarity with Palestine.

Diving Deeper:

Palestinian protests have surged on American college campuses, with New York University becoming the latest flashpoint. Overnight Monday, the NYPD arrested more than 100 students during a demonstration against Israel's military actions in Gaza. According to Axios, faculty members were among those arrested. However, additional protesters, "many of whom we believe were not affiliated with NYU, suddenly breached the barriers" and joined the others already on the plaza in violation of university rules and directions from officials. This event marks a significant uptick in university-level activism, initially sparked by a similar protest at Columbia University.

The situation escalated when NYU officials, citing unsanctioned protests and disruptions to university operations, authorized police intervention. John Beckman, an NYU spokesperson, highlighted that the protest included breaches of barriers and antisemitic incidents, which led to a swift NYPD response. The protesters, many of whom were not affiliated with NYU, were part of a larger movement that has seen student groups at campuses like Berkeley, MIT, and Emerson College launch encampments and rallies in support of Palestinian causes. According to the Boston Globe, Boston Globe: “We were definitely inspired by what’s going on at Columbia,” said Owen Buxton, an Emerson College senior, as he stood in the campus’s main alley across from the Boston Common on Monday morning. “They put out the call for universities across the country, and we answered.”

These protests are part of a broader, nationwide response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has also seen an increase in antisemitic incidents across college campuses. The U.S. Education Department has initiated investigations into these incidents as part of its effort to address potential discrimination.