Pro-Palestinian protesters at New York University (NYU) have been calling for the university to divest from Israel and support a cease-fire as Israeli military actions in Gaza continue. After the NYPD arrested a group of student protesters who had set up camp on campus, criticism of NYU President Linda Mills has escalated. In a disturbing act of vandalism, videos surfaced on social media showing what appeared to be blood smeared on Mills’ front door and the sidewalk outside her home, directly linked to the protest at NYU.
NYU spokesperson John Beckman confirmed the act of vandalism at Mills’ home, describing it as “far out-of-line” and deeply troubling. The NYPD is now investigating the incident, which Beckman stated goes against the campus’ tradition of reasoned discourse and non-violence. Surveillance footage shows a male suspect wearing a mask splashing red ink on the building before fleeing with another individual. The incident has prompted a call for anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation.
A note accompanying a video of the vandalism claimed that “external community members in solidarity with NYU students” were responsible, accusing Mills and NYU of complicity in genocide and having blood on their hands. The demonstrations have sparked controversy, with reports of antisemitic incidents and over 1,000 student protesters being arrested on college campuses in the past two weeks. Protesters argue that Israel is engaged in genocide in Gaza, with thousands of casualties reported both from Hamas attacks on Israel and Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Despite promises of a crackdown on antisemitic incidents and growing concerns over the escalating protests, the demonstrations at college campuses show no signs of abating. The initial attack by Hamas on Israel resulted in numerous casualties, while the Israeli military has reportedly killed thousands of Palestinians in Gaza since the conflict began. The incident at Mills’ home has raised alarms about the implications of violence and threats during protests, challenging the campus’ values of reasoned discourse and non-violence. The situation remains complex, with tensions running high and both sides of the conflict facing scrutiny.
