A large number of police officers cleared a protest encampment on the campus of Northeastern University in Boston on Saturday morning, detaining approximately 100 people in the process. Officers appeared to be putting zip ties around numerous protesters’ wrists, starting around 7 a.m. Before 8 a.m., another large group locked arms and chanted while blocking one of the driveways that police vehicles, including vans full of the arrested protesters, could use to exit the campus. The total number of protesters in the area appeared to grow throughout the morning. Police eventually used an alternative path for their egress from the campus.“Officers directed protesters to disperse and MSP members assisted in removing protesters who refused to leave. Approximately 102 protesters who refused to comply with orders to disperse were arrested and will be charged by NUPD with trespassing and disorderly conduct. They are being transported to the Suffolk County House of Correction to be booked and processed,” state police said in a statement.Video below: Group blocks drivewayThe encampment on Centennial Common was established earlier this week by a group calling for the university to disclose any ties to Israel and divest from businesses that work with that nation, echoing the demands of other protest encampments at colleges across the country. “What began as a student demonstration two days ago, was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern. Last night, the use of virulent antisemitic slurs, including ‘Kill the Jews,’ crossed the line. We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus,” the university said in a statement.After being arrested and having zip ties put on their wrists, at least one student said they were released by police because they had identification to prove they attended Northeastern University. They could not say whether this was happening to others. University officials later confirmed that students were being released. “As part of clearing the site, approximately 100 individuals were detained by police. Students who produced a valid Northeastern ID were released. They will face disciplinary proceedings within the university, not legal action. Those who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested,” officials said. Video below: Students released after being detainedAfter police moved through, a moving truck arrived and campus officials said work on cleaning the common would begin.”The fact that the phrase ‘Kill the Jews’ was shouted on our campus is not in dispute,” Renata Nyul, vice president of communications for Northeastern University said. “There is also substantial video evidence. Any suggestion that repulsive antisemitic comments are sometimes acceptable depending on the context is reprehensible. That language has no place on any university campus.”Video below: Cleanup starts on CentennialOn social media, Northeastern University thanked its police department, student life staff and external partners “for their flawless execution” on Saturday morning. “By 11:30 a.m., the quad in Centennial Common was fully secured and all campus operations have returned to normal,” the statement said. The encampment first popped up on Centennial Common on Thursday afternoon, with protesters creating a circle with linked arms. For about 20 tense minutes on Thursday afternoon, Boston police officers surrounded the encampment, but eventually left.The police presence increased once again late Friday night, with demonstrators holding the Palestinian flag and others holding the Israeli flag spotted nearby.Many of the protesters wore masks or scarves to cover their faces, and some declined to talk to reporters, but their protest was peaceful.Northeastern University administrators asked demonstrators for student IDs, declaring that non-students would be trespassing on school property, but none complied.The encampment was established less than a day after police cleared another encampment at Emerson College. On Friday, the Emerson student government called for the president to resign over response to encampment arrests. The Emerson College Board of Trustees said the board remained confident in President Jay Bernhardt’s leadership “and unequivocally supports his presidency.”Northeastern previously said the protest is “in violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Those who are not affiliated with Northeastern are trespassing. The university will take action accordingly.”

BOSTON —

A large number of police officers cleared a protest encampment on the campus of Northeastern University in Boston on Saturday morning, detaining approximately 100 people in the process.

Officers appeared to be putting zip ties around numerous protesters’ wrists, starting around 7 a.m.

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Before 8 a.m., another large group locked arms and chanted while blocking one of the driveways that police vehicles, including vans full of the arrested protesters, could use to exit the campus. The total number of protesters in the area appeared to grow throughout the morning.

Police eventually used an alternative path for their egress from the campus.

“Officers directed protesters to disperse and MSP members assisted in removing protesters who refused to leave. Approximately 102 protesters who refused to comply with orders to disperse were arrested and will be charged by NUPD with trespassing and disorderly conduct. They are being transported to the Suffolk County House of Correction to be booked and processed,” state police said in a statement.

Video below: Group blocks driveway

The encampment on Centennial Common was established earlier this week by a group calling for the university to disclose any ties to Israel and divest from businesses that work with that nation, echoing the demands of other protest encampments at colleges across the country.

“What began as a student demonstration two days ago, was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern. Last night, the use of virulent antisemitic slurs, including ‘Kill the Jews,’ crossed the line. We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus,” the university said in a statement.

After being arrested and having zip ties put on their wrists, at least one student said they were released by police because they had identification to prove they attended Northeastern University. They could not say whether this was happening to others.

University officials later confirmed that students were being released.

“As part of clearing the site, approximately 100 individuals were detained by police. Students who produced a valid Northeastern ID were released. They will face disciplinary proceedings within the university, not legal action. Those who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested,” officials said.

Video below: Students released after being detained

After police moved through, a moving truck arrived and campus officials said work on cleaning the common would begin.

“The fact that the phrase ‘Kill the Jews’ was shouted on our campus is not in dispute,” Renata Nyul, vice president of communications for Northeastern University said. “There is also substantial video evidence. Any suggestion that repulsive antisemitic comments are sometimes acceptable depending on the context is reprehensible. That language has no place on any university campus.”

Video below: Cleanup starts on Centennial

On social media, Northeastern University thanked its police department, student life staff and external partners “for their flawless execution” on Saturday morning.

“By 11:30 a.m., the quad in Centennial Common was fully secured and all campus operations have returned to normal,” the statement said.

The encampment first popped up on Centennial Common on Thursday afternoon, with protesters creating a circle with linked arms. For about 20 tense minutes on Thursday afternoon, Boston police officers surrounded the encampment, but eventually left.

The police presence increased once again late Friday night, with demonstrators holding the Palestinian flag and others holding the Israeli flag spotted nearby.

Many of the protesters wore masks or scarves to cover their faces, and some declined to talk to reporters, but their protest was peaceful.

Northeastern University administrators asked demonstrators for student IDs, declaring that non-students would be trespassing on school property, but none complied.

The encampment was established less than a day after police cleared another encampment at Emerson College. On Friday, the Emerson student government called for the president to resign over response to encampment arrests. The Emerson College Board of Trustees said the board remained confident in President Jay Bernhardt’s leadership “and unequivocally supports his presidency.”

Northeastern previously said the protest is “in violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Those who are not affiliated with Northeastern are trespassing. The university will take action accordingly.”

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