NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – The NYPD descended on pro-Palestinian encampments at NYU and the New School at daybreak Friday, arresting dozens of protesters and tearing down tents.
At least 56 arrests were made at the two campuses in Greenwich Village, according to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell. Of the arrests, 43 were at the New School and 13 at NYU.
NYPD officers closed off the entrances of NYU's campus as they moved in on an outdoor encampment behind the John A. Paulson Center.
Nearby at the New School, encampments were dismantled inside the lobby of Kerrey Hall and at the University Center building on Fifth Avenue.
Chell said police cleared the two campuses at the request of the schools' presidents.
Many of the young demonstrators left peacefully when given the option, the chief said, while some were arrested without incident. No injuries were reported.
Earlier this week, about 300 people were arrested at City College of New York and at Columbia University, where the protests and encampments over the Israel-Hamas war began last month.
As of Friday, more than 2,200 protesters have been arrested at college campuses nationwide.
A tally by the Associated Press recorded at least 56 incidents of arrests at 43 different U.S. colleges or universities since April 18, when more than 100 people were arrested at Columbia, setting off the wave of protests.
