Tarik Sheppard, the NYPD's deputy commissioner of public information, told Fox that officials were using lessons learned from Columbia to tackle the situation at NYU and to help form a plan to keep Gould Plaza clear of protesters. Footage aired Tuesday on Fox showed a panel being set up to block off the plaza.
Videos on social media showed dozens of officers in tense confrontations with protesters. Some officers tossed tents, and others grappled with demonstrators. Videos also showed police loading people, whose hands were zip-tied behind their backs, onto police buses.
NYU spokesman John Beckman said the university blocked access to the plaza where about 50 protesters were demonstrating "without authorization" Monday morning.
The barriers were breached early that afternoon by additional protesters, "many of whom we believe were not affiliated with NYU," he said. They exhibited "disorderly, disruptive and antagonizing behavior" and refused to leave when told the protests would be disbanded. The university then requested assistance from the NYPD, Beckman said, adding that "several antisemitic incidents" were reported.
news.columbia.edu
gothamist.com
