Protesters Persist as Some Universities Close Encampments Amid Reports of Antisemitic Incidents

NEW YORK (AP/Hamodia) — Student demonstrators rallying against the Israel-Hamas war at college campuses nationwide vowed to continue their protests on Saturday, even as certain universities took measures to dismantle encampments following reports of antisemitic behavior among the protesters.

Demonstrators across the United States are urging educational institutions to sever financial ties with Israel and divest from companies allegedly contributing to the war effort. Some Jewish students claim that the protests have strayed into antisemitism, causing fear among students on campus.

In the early hours of Saturday, police in riot gear dispersed an encampment at Northeastern University in Boston. Massachusetts State Police reported the arrest of approximately 102 protesters on charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct. Protesters claimed they were given only 15 minutes to disperse before being apprehended.

As workers dismantled tents and cleared debris from the encampment, a group of demonstrators across from the site chanted slogans against the war in Gaza, expressing solidarity with the protesters. They also directed criticism towards passing police cars and officers guarding the encampment.

In response to the incident, the university released a statement attributing the disruption to “professional organizers” unaffiliated with the school, alleging the use of antisemitic slurs such as “kill the Jews.”

“We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus,” the statement posted on social media read.

Meanwhile, the president of the nearby Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) issued a statement expressing concerns over an encampment on their campus, characterizing it as a potential magnet for disruptive outside protesters and a significant drain on university resources.

At the University of Pennsylvania, interim President J. Larry Jameson called for the disbandment of an encampment on the west Philadelphia campus, citing violations of university policies. However, as of Saturday morning, approximately 40 tents remained in place.

Reports of “harassing and intimidating comments and actions” by some protesters prompted Jameson to condemn the behavior, describing vandalism of a statue with antisemitic graffiti as “especially reprehensible” and subject to investigation as a hate crime.

In response to Jameson’s statements, a faculty group expressed deep concern, disputing the allegations and emphasizing the peaceful nature of the protests.

At Columbia University, where protests have gained traction, demonstrators intend to persist despite clashes with administrators. The university senate’s resolution to form a task force reflects ongoing tensions between protesters and university leadership.