Police Arrest Pro-Palestine Encampment Participants at SUNY New Paltz

133 SUNY New Paltz students and community members participating in the pro-Palestine encampment were arrested last night at Parker Quad on the campus, as reported by the Daily Freeman. Arrests began following the 9 p.m. encampment dispersal deadline given by university administrative officials. 

A video posted to X by user @danielattona at 11:01 p.m. said, “Dozens of cops with batons and dogs are arresting protestors at the SUNY New Paltz encampment. Drones and helicopters are flying above. This is a dangerous escalation by the [SUNY New Paltz] administration,” the tweet reads. Over 150 police officers across local and state agencies were present. 

Within minutes of this tweet, a video posted by the New Paltz Students for Palestine Instagram page shows police arresting protestors by dragging them away from the perimeter of the encampment. 

The Times Union reported that those arrested were charged with trespassing but were released and given later court date. A Spectrum News reporter was arrested while covering the encampment as reported by Spectrum News 1. The reporter was released, receiving a violation. 

Livestreams of the encampment show police picking up protesters and dragging them behind police lines to use zip ties for arrest. K-9s were also within the police line, barking as protestors continued to chant and record the situation. 

Footage posted on Instagram by the Black Student Union at SUNY New Paltz from one of the livestreams shows police picking up and dragging protestors behind the police lines, including an officer grabbing an individual by the back of the neck and forcing them to the ground as more police piled on the person.

Before the start of the arrests, NPSFP called for a bail fund “in anticipation of mass arrests” in a since-deleted Instagram post. The SUNY New Paltz administration sent two officials from student affairs to the encampment earlier in the afternoon to discuss amnesty for protestors. The university offered a meeting on Tuesday, May 7, to discuss the demands of NPSFP organizers. 

The initial deadline for amnesty was 7 p.m. on May 2 on the condition that the encampment would dismantled and protestors dispersed. NPSFP offered a counteroffer that the encampment would not be dismantled “unless our demands are met, and that being the start to negotiations with [SUNY New Paltz] President [Darrell] Wheeler in the open at our encampment,” an Instagram post stated. 

NPSFP released demands of the SUNY New Paltz administration with a pro-Palestinian encampment on the Parker Quad starting May 1. The statement posted to Instagram notes that the encampment will not be dismantled “until our demands are met.” 

NPSFP also released a code of conduct within the statement of demands to inform participants on maintaining peace, not interacting with police or counter-protestors, being cautious with the press, only videoing and photographing participants with their consent and centering solidarity with Palestine. 

This encampment at SUNY New Paltz is similar to student-led protests across the United States and internationally since the initial Columbia University encampment began in late April. Vassar College in Poughkeepsie is also holding a pro-Palestine encampment with demands similar to the Vassar administration as those to SUNY New Paltz. Thus far, no police activity has been present at Vassar since the encampment began on April 30.

Wheeler released a statement on the negotiations and use of police presence on students, stating, “From the beginning, our approach has been to reach out to our students in a spirit of support and partnership. We repeatedly expressed hope that we could work together to support the right to free speech while also adhering to campus policies that ensure safety.” The statement notes protestors were notified of the consequences.

One SUNY New Paltz student commented on the NPSFP page, “Being a part of this was absolutely horrific. The amount of people I watched get BEAT, or literally dragged out was insane. The fact that these police even dragged out elderly like that. I am beyond horrified that this would happen on our campus.” The same student also provided footage to the Marist Circle of protestors retreating as the police line closed in.

A representative from Celebrate845, a social justice organization based in the Hudson Valley recognizing low-income and marginalized creatives, was present at SUNY New Paltz starting Wednesday and was arrested last night. They recall the encampment stating there was “thoughtful training around safety, around knowing your rights, around staying well.” The representative also saw community donations of food and supplies come in for those at Parker Quad.  

Thursday night, the representative for Celebrate845 explained there were “a lot of terrible things” occurring to protestors. “I saw a lot of grown adult men and women swing batons at youth and bark at them. I saw a German Shepherd dog threaten kids. I saw community members show up, and students show up and stand in the way.” 

They were subsequently arrested and brought to the police station, where they noted, “I saw the police try to be friendly to a bunch of youth they just arrested pretty unjustifiably.” In reflecting on the arrest, a representative from Celebrate845 stated, “I'm tired today, but also honored to be in community with such selfless, caring people of all ages, mainly the youth.” 

Following the previous night’s arrests, SUNY New Paltz students and community members hosted a walk-out on Friday afternoon in protest of the arrests. Video of the demonstration was posted to the NPSFP Instagram story.

A graphic posted by Activism Updates Hudson Valley on Instagram announced a community protest on Saturday, May 4, at 11 a.m. outside of the Elting Library in New Paltz. “A community demonstration of outrage over the absurd deployment of riot police on non-violent students of SUNY New Paltz and other community members,” read the post.