Drop the Charges: Demands for CUNY to Divest from Israel Met by Violent Police Repression

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Students and workers at the City University of New York held a peaceful occupation Tuesday of the school's Graduate Center in solidarity with Palestine and renamed its library "The Al Aqsa University Library," after Gaza's oldest public university, which was destroyed by Israel's bombardment. This comes as over 500 faculty and staff at CUNY have signed a letter demanding the charges be dropped against at least 173 people arrested in April when NYPD violently raided a peaceful Gaza solidarity encampment on the City College campus. "This is really the most egregious example we've seen of violent repression of pro-Palestinian organizing," says pro-Palestine activist and CUNY alumni Musabika Nabiha, who says the crackdown wasn't in response to the tents, rallies or free food, but because the "encampment's demands themselves proved a threat to the constant accumulation of profit and profiting off of genocide that CUNY is engaged in." Alex Vitale, coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project at CUNY's Brooklyn College, criticizes the school administration for being relatively harsh on student activists. "CUNY is spending millions of dollars for a security apparatus that fails to address the real security needs of students and is really there in moments like this to be a tool, a kind of private army, for the administration to suppress student dissent."
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[@karlad4082]

I think the students should file lawsuits against the university and the police department for over reacting to a peaceful protest.

[@perryroberts4353]

They should have to reimburse all the students who missed class or graduation.

[@raziablanchard2711]

Thumbs up 👍 to the Students for Standing up for Truth & Humanity

[@darrellfuller8078]

Cosplaying Hamas = humanity? So progressive.

[@richardgillette5759]

En shallah we will have shariah law soon in USA

[@darrellfuller8078]

@@richardgillette5759 UNRWA = Hamas = UNRWA = Hamas = UNRWA

[@topbanana4013]

you need an education to

[@topbanana4013]

@@richardgillette5759 lol you be out on a plane when trump comes back

[@albagherzadeh2571]

I support their efforts to practice their First Amendment 👍

[@Revenant74]

The first amendment doesn't say vandalize campuses.

[@rhetorical1488]

@@Revenant74 so stop Soros from funding it.

[@triggerfish6619]

Peacefully...

[@stanr8946]

While of course they silence the First Amendment rights of people with whom they disagree, correct? 🙄

[@jmc4935]

​@@stanr8946 Only one group is pushing a law that would make it illegal to criticize a foreign nation in clear violation of our constitutionally protected rights. If this was China or Russia, we would revolt. But we can't because it's "anti semitic" even though the criticism is towards a foreign nation that is in violation of international and US law.

[@The_Riddler21]

Massive respect 🫡 to these students and teachers fighting for justice and freedom of Palestine ❤️🇵🇸✌️

[@stanr8946]

LOL, they are useful idiots being played by the Marxist Left who have decided to make bedfellows out of Jihadists, the same way the NSDAP and Communist types did during the Weimar Republic in Germany.

[@yoliewalker4582]

UNITED NATIONS STAND UP and STOP NATHANYAHU NOW Thank you 🌹

[@asielmundo]

Is not only him is the all aparteheid system israeli

[@perryroberts4353]

The UN probably takes your demands as seriously as these clown's.

[@richardgillette5759]

With the big UN ARMY

[@jalal6649]

Israeli Hasbara 101: 1. We haven't heard reports of deaths, will check into it. 2. Palestinians were killed, but by a faulty Hamas rocket. 3. Okay, we killed them, but they were terrorists. 4. Okay, they were civilians, but they were being used as human shields. 5. Okay, there were no fighters in the area, it was our mistake, but we don’t target civilians, like Hamas. 6. Okay, we've killed far more civilians than Hamas, but look at how terrible other countries are! 7. Why are you still talking about Israel? Are you some kind of anti-semite?

[@asielmundo]

Well said 👏 israel apartheid system must end now

[@bobsanborn2395]

This comment still rings the bell, every time i chance upon it. Seven stages of gaslighting and goebbelsian-hubbardian Black PR. The Cults of Scientology & Ziontology make ample use of this mindipulation technique. It's also kinda funny, in a sick sorta way. You could work it into a comedy skit.

[@perryroberts4353]

@@bobsanborn2395 These kids should be in school to learn about the world, not try to change it.

[@Auroral_Anomaly]

If they think they are losing they call you antisemitic.

[@perryroberts4353]

@@Auroral_Anomaly But we're never losing.

[@sosammathomas1525]

May be disturbing who ever want to study.

[@nsbd90now]

Why are they studying outside in the middle of a protest?

[@margaret2427]

as a CUNY employee i back them 100%. admin needs to get cops off campus and drop the charges immediately.

[@Revenant74]

Drop the charges? They clearly vandalized campuses. Democracy Now is a clearly a treasonous pro- extremists network that won't acknowledge the extremism of these protesters.

[@Revenant74]

Drop the charges? They clearly vandalized campuses. Democracy Now is a clearly a treasonous pro- extremists network that won't acknowledge the extremism of these protesters.😑

[@abdulazizalzut8963]

what do you do at CUNY?

[@margaret2427]

@@abdulazizalzut8963 why, you want to complain to my manager? lol go troll someone else

[@docholiday8029]

Proud of students against genocide Right side of history and morality

[@ronaldshiffman9171]

Nonsense. There is no such thing as 'the right side of history'. History 'just is'. Israel's war against Hamas is moral and legal. That is the history since Oct. 7.

[@darrellfuller8078]

The side that wears masks while promoting violence is on the "right side of history?"

[@warEmpress]

They're literally supporting genocide 😂

[@lizArizona]

Drop the charges

[@ryblack5032]

Nope!

[@vonbennett8670]

...and permanent deport all non-Citizens involved.

[@evolvnyc]

They quit because the administration promised to “address their concerns.” Yeah, ok. Good luck with that. We’ll see how long THAT lasts…

[@switzjon8405]

How do activists find out where all money comes from?

[@switzjon8405]

@@334honda Is that all of the schools and universities? How do people know for a fact? Are there any other foreign investors in American institutions?

[@Lily_of_the_Alley]

​​@@switzjon8405 Yes, there are a lot of different countries with investments here in America, like A LOT. And you can obtain many public records to find out funding sources, and if available by formal request their tax records for instance. Also by researching their endowments and their donors. They are publicly funded institutions for the most part, honestly where not enough of our own tax dollars are going.

[@Mayrego]

A lot of companies brag openly about their involvements with schools. Where have you been?

[@annoyedaussie3942]

​@@334honda Your comment is silly and unhelpful.

[@user-xu4ju8wc7m]

The police are just making these people more determined

[@nsbd90now]

The police are class traitors protecting the oligarchs. They don't even have to know the laws they are supposed to enforce. They don't accept those of high IQ which has been upheld by the Courts. They don't want cops of intelligence and good judgement.

[@CherubimandAngels]

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

[@zoo-xibbitjayne2081]

The dragons and their golden hoards creating reckless destruction wherever they go. Corrupting men's hearts in service to the one dragon.

[@karenbryant2]

What does that mean?

[@zoo-xibbitjayne2081]

@@karenbryant2 the mythical dinosaurs of greed and pride have devoured all the democratic equity among nations.

[@akmediaarts6640]

This is much the same protest that boomers did about the Vietnam war as well as those demanding the end of apartheid in SA. Or even other protests for social change. I'm embarrassed to say I attended a CUNY college. I know I boycotted and protested. But this oppression of students is horrid With that said - NO STUDENT SHOULD BE FEARFUL OF ATTENDING CLASSES EVER REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, or ETHNIC AFFILIATION

[@jacquelinehembrey4825]

You should have left out the yelling part ... THEY AREN'T. STOP FEEDING PROPAGANDA!

[@user-gu9co4li9l]

@@jacquelinehembrey4825 What yelling part? 😎 😎

[@jacquelinehembrey4825]

@@user-gu9co4li9l ALL CAPS IS YELLING.

[@user-eo3gb1cq9d]

Bravo guys standing up for justice from South Africa

[@fatihaa7423]

Bravo les jeunes soutiens inconditionnel ❤❤❤❤❤❤🇵🇸🤲☝️💪👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@FoxSt3v3]

these students are my heroes thank you for reporting

[@l23918]

Love the song❤

[@switzjon8405]

6:26 Do you know what real student descent is? not going to college in the first place, and finding other means of making money and not being forever tired into debt?

[@bobsanborn2395]

Did you mean to type descent (downfall), or dissent (disagree)? If it was the latter, you may have a point. Many if not most follow your suggested program. But their 'dissent' (by not going) is a negative (or passive) dissent, and is not based on where some college's profits are coming from, but rather on the pecuniary chains of rent and utilities. The positive (active) dissent of the students is based on ethics.

[@NotANaiveAmerican]

I'm really proud of the young generation. They are going to save our country now and generations to come. It is extremely important for these movements to succeed otherwise our children will not have a future.

[@ryblack5032]

😂😂😂😂

[@user-yg8dh1fw6l]

​@@ryblack5032 🤡💩🤡💩

[@user-uf1dn2gc2o]

From the River to the sea Palestine 🇵🇸 will be free

[@Revenant74]

From the river to the sea, no degrees, jobs and citizenships is what they will be.

[@wytrose4602]

You gotta see the grayzone matt Blumenthal speech. Shocking details finally found the entire situation..all the puzzle pieces fell together in a absolute Shocking 😲 detailed analysis. Holy smokes. Guys we really need to stand against this or we are absolute done as a republic..dead serious.

[@Natasha_mam]

Free Palestine 🇵🇸❤️

[@Javiers-gt8ou]

And the Hamas hostages also want to be free🇮🇱❤️

[@jacquelinehembrey4825]

​@@Javiers-gt8ouAnd the thousands of hostages Israel has ... you can't win, just stop

[@stanr8946]

Free your mind from being a Hamas parrot.

[@georgekustner3440]

The IDF is making Gaza free again

[@hayatraja7360]

🇵🇸

[@FreePalestine-tb5hi]

From the River to the sea Palestine will be free

[@Revenant74]

From the river to the sea, no degrees, jobs and citizenships is what they will be.

[@arielyitzhakherman1377]

Choose a river beside Jordan river and you are wellcoe to build your genocidal "state" there

[@doaver2.125]

You want to put these colleges and universities in line? It's very easy, if there's no students and no tuitions being paid. You have no more colleges and institutions...

[@emiliobello2538]

Oh my

[@AAsh-tl1wt]

من الواضح ان بايدن وضع الديموقراطية في شرجه وهو مستمتع بذلك

[@sadimasson8734]

Well said Alex Fitale

[@veronicajade20]

So proud of these students standing up against the oppression and the atrocities that Israel is inflicting upon Palestinians. These students risking arrest and possibly their future careers are beyond courageous & inspiring.

[@manuelbello5806]

Free Palestine

[@barbiejohnson3047]

Leaders. Leaders. This is the 21st century. Humanity has matured now beyond the brute beast mentality. What does “leader” mean? And what do leaders lead? Harmony or chaos? How many leaders are on this planet? How many humans are on this planet? Who leads who? And for what reason? Wake up brothers and sisters to the light of your own leader! The light of your own Spirit. Wake up brothers and sisters to the power of your Love. Your compassion. Pass it on… Namaste

[@jonathansheehan3121]

In Massachusetts the D governor sent the State Police and mutual aid in to deal with students peacefully protesting at UMass Amherst... As a person of Irish ancestry I am in solidarity with the Palestinian People. My heart wants the human suffering to stop, my heart goes out to folks suffering on both sides. I also view the establishment of the Is Israeli state as an extension of British Imperialism.

[@DanielB.-fb8hj]

Free Palestine what does it mean, I don't know

[@safetbeharovic9478]

i’m going to explain to you you remember for your life free Palestine mean to be free to not to be occupied for 75 years not to be kill not to be ethnic Lindsey not to be stand stealing land OK that’s what I mean. Be free OK so Palestine they can have own country back in own hands because Palestine occupy for 75 years OK that’s I mean OK maybe you make yourself stupid but I’ll teach you right free free Palestine from scumbags like you free Palestine forever the desert to be free same thing like me and you OK those people need to be free now we understandPalestine

[@karenbryant2]

Free the Palestinians from Israeli oppression. land grabs, violence. Free the land which for 1000s of years has been recognized as the Palestine region from Israeli occupation. Free from Z i o n i s t s.

[@samsunnahar9175]

STUDENTS ARE GREAT HUMAN BEINGS, MORAL SOLDIERS AND LIGHT OF DARKNESS.

[@jesseandersen9762]

They support hamas

[@samsunnahar9175]

@@jesseandersen9762 STUDENTS DON'T SUPPORT GENOCIDE, OCCUPATION, ETHNIC CLEANSING,AND APARTHEID. STUDENTS SUPPORT HUMANITY AND JUSTICE .

[@Vorname_Nachnahme]

What's with the arrest-warrant for Netanjahu? ICC doesn't dare to? ... :)

[@tmnt10000]

No different tactics them Muslims use, labeling everyone Islamophobic when they criticize Islam

[@summerysteam96]

'Democracy now' sharing the truth?

[@user-ht3jd6dw8t]

Of course !

[@bradfordleak]

Free the hostages

[@MrDandaman2000]

Yes!!!!!

[@imilliemedina666]

600,000 children are held hostage in Rafeh

[@MrDandaman2000]

@@imilliemedina666 nope, they’re not hostages. No one took them anywhere

[@imilliemedina666]

@@MrDandaman2000 15,000 children have been m*rdered by IDF so far

[@imilliemedina666]

@@MrDandaman2000 15,000 children m*rdered

[@the.masked.one.studio4899]

💗

[@LuzGloriaLopezRamirez]

One suggestion. i think the MORE IMPORTANT GOAL TO GET apart to stop supliying arms to Israel, IS TO STOP colonization and occupation and genocide and to stop the war and humanitarian aid now and palestine sovereign state. If they talk about the resistance, Hamas, without pointing their violation of law. that talking is going to debilitate the other goals. why? because the resistance, hamas, have committed crimes , war crimes, because they kill civilians and kidnapped civilians.( even if hamas would be a military force in a soverign state) . If we are in favor of international law, we have to comdem this act. but israeli government had not any rigth to kill civilians so they are war criminals, but not all israelies, only the ones that have been directly implicated, as well than in oct7 the one to respond to international law have to be the ones implicated and not the 35000 palestinian killed in gaza. hamas did not act in a vacuum, palestinian have been under apartheid and represion and colonization from 78 years ago and the international law have not been implemented because israel did not obbey and have the support of united states, united kindong, Germany and France. this situation of the imposibility of rule of law is what we have today. SO, THE FIGTH HAVE TO BE A FIGTH FOR DEMOCRACY AND THE WAY BACK TO RULES OF LAW FOR EVERYONE. first, israel have to end occupation. estudents have to study very well what they want and the way to be succesfull in the world of today

[@RuEd294]

Taking down the US flag and hosting the Palestinian flag was peaceful? You are kidding right? Lololol😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@michaelwojcicki3624]

A university has an obligation to educate. Disruptive students impede that obligation and should be expelled.

[@yeasminchowdhury6090]

Very shame for US government and UK government and western some countries

[@arielyitzhakherman1377]

US and UK want to survive this invasion of lunitak jihadism. Very simple.

[@abdulazizalzut8963]

Massive respect to the students who are now able to learn hate the yahoods in the Al-Aqsa library. CUNY is a bush league college, a degree from CUNY is almost worthless, so at least now the students will be able to learn something valuable. Musabika should really go to study in a Palestinian university in Gaza. I hope her husband / owner will allow her to attend

[@stevenalvarado-doc7334]

'Officer, may I suggest that you use your nightstick?'.

[@kevinwilliams1768]

stand strong

[@vectorfox4782]

The Baby Boomer generation has done so much damage just by existing

[@nsbd90now]

Tim Pool, Charlie Kirk, Matt Walsh, Ben Shapiro, Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, Steven Crowder, Elon Musk and all their little friends and all their fans aren't boomers. Stop with the ridiculous ageism.

[@vectorfox4782]

@@nsbd90now who do you think inspired them? 😂

[@bobsanborn2395]

Students Are The Antennae Of The People

[@samsunnahar9175]

FREE FREE FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸♥ 🇵🇸 FROM RIVER TO SEA. FREE FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸♥ 🇵🇸 ♥ FROM OCCUPATION, OPPRESSION, ETHNIC CLEANSING, AND APARTHEID.STOP GAZA GENOCIDE.

[@AseelDeryah-vs6si]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@adinahaun6001]

US campuses look a lot like Germany, 1939

[@Retalak]

Protesting against genocide is not hateful. Get real.

[@tmnt10000]

​@Retalak It is, when you protest the genocide of the Jewish people

[@georgekustner3440]

​@@Retalakget real. There is no genocide, but a lot of propaganda. This is getting rather stale.

[@ryblack5032]

Thank YOU Officers ❤

[@chrismarshall8855]

So thankful that Hamas propaganda doesn’t work on the intelligent.

[@Lily_of_the_Alley]

What "Hamas propaganda"?

[@bobsanborn2395]

@@Lily_of_the_Alley Good question. Every hamas other hamas word hamas is hamas hamas, to some of these hamas-happy commentators. Not as prevalent here as elsewhere, but still... i do like humus, however. It's healthy and tasty. And no humors of hamas to laugh or cry of.

[@georgekustner3440]

Cops are doing their jobs and they have done it well. 👏

[@zuckit2024]

JAIL TIME AND then DEPORTATION

[@press-biased.inconceivable]

College students should donate the payments and tuition fees to the Palestinian Gazans. Professors who are supporting these protests should donate their wages to Palestine Gazans.

[@ryblack5032]

😂😂😂😂

[@RuEd294]

Good one. Oh but they would’t. 😂😂😂

[@user-zi8qe6tf9f]

I am your sister from Yemen, and by Allah I only spoke out of hunger and distress. My mother, my brothers, and I lessons and tears. We are in a situation that only God knows about. God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs for those who brought us to this situation. By Allah Almighty, I did not write this appeal out of distress and distress. Poverty, O world, they have felt it So, I hope for you. By Allah Almighty, Lord of the Great Throne, he ate what I had in the house. By Allah, my brothers, he is my brothers by sitting in the house. Who has no food? By God, we are in a very difficult situation. We have 4 people entering the house, and my father has died, and there is no one who can depend on us and who lives in it.We live in a rented house because we cannot pay the rent we owe. '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''' My brother, my first words are: I swear to God that I will not lie to you or deceive you. I am a Yemeni girl displaced from the war. My family and I live in a rented house in Al-Shahrab 20,000 Yemenis amongs, and now we owe 60,000 for 3 months. The owner of the house is one of the people who does not have mercy, by God, my brother. He comes every day, insulting us, talking about us, and moving from the house to the street because we were unable to pay him the rent. The neighbors saw us crying and came back.They came back to talk to the neighbors and we were given the weekend. So we made him swear by God. He will take us out into the street. Have mercy on him and us. Our country is due to this war and we do not find food for our day, and my brothers and I live in a difficult life. Our father died, may God have mercy on him, and we have no one in this world who was with us in these harsh circumstances. My younger brothers went out into the street and saw...The neighbors eat and stand at their door in order to give them bread even if they break it. By God, to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, they closed the door and expelled them and came back crying. They are dying of hunger. No one has mercy on them and a holiday is returned. I have made a living, and now if us helps us with a kilo of flour, I swear to God, I am dying of hunger. My brother, I am an alien to God. Then, I ask you to help me for the sake of God. I ask you, by God, to love goodness and to help me, even if you can, by messaging me on WhatsApp.On this number [phone] and ask for the name of my card and send it and do not be late and may God reward you with all the best, my brothers Sagar, see how they are and help us and save us before they throw us out in the street, you will be lost or we will die of hunger. My family and I ask you, by God, if you are able to help us, do not be late and may God reward you well..`/--~«««~~♡~♡~♡~~•~•~♡~♡~~♡~♡~♡~♡♡♡~~~~: ~:~¡~¡~¡~;I.i.i.i.i.i. i.I.|-ː}-|>}-|>}-|>}-|>}-|>}-|>💔💔😭😭☪️🕋.........😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@laroark5036]

If you don't like your college. LEAVE !!!

[@t4t359]

If you don't like the First Amendment, LEAVE !!!

[@switzjon8405]

@@t4t359Keep that same perspective when it's conservatives or Christians doing the same thing okay?

[@ryblack5032]

Amen 🙏

[@t4t359]

@@switzjon8405 Seeing that the US was founded on conservative Christian values, I'm okay with that. That was the point of the United States.

[@switzjon8405]

@@t4t359 it kills me with some progressives. They're all for the 1st amendment until it challenges them. Then it becomes hate speech and needs not be spoken

[@switzjon8405]

4:12 You can't expect NOT to have some repercussions from this. Come on. I've also noticed the pattern of socialism always in these protests.

[@MrDandaman2000]

No charges should be dropped. If the law was broken, consequences need to be faced.

[@user-wf7yk3bc7j]

Cholos For TRUMP!

[@DemosBrutus]

Cholos live matters.

[@j_p_jr.487]

¡Órale!

[@dariag505]

Israeli cruelty towards Palestinians is the ultimate disrespect to the jewish faith and people.

[@2to2Tango]

Against all odds America has raised a generation of moral, decent human beings 😊 Wouldn't it be the height of irony that this generation have the courage and are fearless in taking a stand against the murderous genocidal onslaught against the Palestinian people because they were taught about the cruelties and horror of antisemitism and the holocaust. Pro israeli supporters, this is called KARMA by my people. LONG LIVE PALESTINE 🇵🇸

[@nsbd90now]

Not the entire generation by any stretch. Each generation has the decent folk, and the awful. Their parents (grandparents?) protested the Vietnam War and got shot at Kent State.

[@user-rd4ct2yc6f]

Tc

[@sangomasangoma3265]

God Bless You- You are THE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE!

[@safetbeharovic9478]

fre fre palestine 🇵🇸