Out of control New York University protestors verbally harassed and surrounded NYPD Assistant Chief James McCarthy and his officers, calling them “f–king fascists” after one protestor was arrested at an anti-Israel rally. A video of the incident shows the protestors chasing and surrounding the officers as they tried to enter the NYU Catholic Center. The crowd shouted profanities at the officers and demanded the release of the woman in custody.
McCarthy and the officers struggled to open the glass doors as the protestors circled them, preventing them from entering the building. Some officers swatted at the protestors’ hands before McCarthy managed to push through the crowd and lead the officers around the side of the building to find another entrance. The protesters chanted “Free! Free Palestine!” while also labeling the officers as “f–king fascists.” The woman in custody yelled at the officers, claiming she had only thrown a bag.
As the officers found another entrance and hurried inside, they pushed out a protester who was trying to force his way in. The protestors remained outside, banging on the doors and hurling insults at the officers. They accused the police of breaking the law and kidnapping the protestor. The NYPD did not provide immediate comment on the incident.
The incident occurred when the NYPD was called to clear out a campus encampment set up at NYU by more than 100 protestors. The students had created a “tent city” in support of a similar encampment at Columbia University, demanding that NYU divest holdings tied to Israel due to the conflict in Gaza. During the clash with police, some protestors threw bottles at officers, and one demonstrator hit a cop in the head with a chair, according to the NYPD.
The chaotic scenes of protestors confronting the police at NYU highlighted the intense emotions and tensions surrounding the conflict in Israel and Gaza. The situation escalated when the NYPD tried to clear out the encampment, leading to violent clashes between the officers and protestors. The incident also raised questions about freedom of speech, peaceful protest, and police conduct in handling such situations. The confrontations between protestors and law enforcement reflected broader societal divisions and debates around issues of social justice and human rights.
