In recent weeks, protests have increased across the United States, with demonstrations focusing on pro-Palestine and anti-Israel sentiment. In the Boston area, protesters at several universities have set up tents on campus. Harvard University responded by closing its campus, while hundreds were arrested at Emerson College and Northeastern University for occupying public spaces.
On April 26, The Epoch Times observed numerous tents erected on the campuses of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, decorated with Palestinian flags and signs declaring them to be “liberated zones.”
Harvard restricted campus access to students and staff with university IDs, and required prior approval for tents and other setups to ensure that public walkways were not blocked.
At MIT, protesters set up tents on the lawn below the Student Activities Center. Next to the pro-Palestine supporters, individuals with Israeli flags were also present.
A pro-Palestine MIT student named Zeno told The Epoch Times that protesters started camping on campus last Sunday night, demanding that MIT stop accepting investments from Israeli institutions, rescind punishments against student protesters, and call on Israel to cease fire in the Gaza region.
“We will continue until our demands are met,” he said.
Inside the protest camps, individuals holding Israeli flags expressed opposing views.
Other Boston-Area Universities
Similar encampments have appeared at other Boston area institutions like Tufts University. Although protests at Harvard and MIT have not yet turned violent, Emerson College experienced significant clashes on April 25, leading to numerous arrests. Northeastern University also reported over a hundred arrests on the morning of April 27.Northeastern University informed students that camping in public spaces violates the student code.
”The quads on Northeastern’s Boston campus are reserved by the division of Student Life for scheduled university events. Students currently demonstrating on Centennial Quad do not have authorization and are in violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Those who are not affiliated with Northeastern are trespassing. The university will take action accordingly,” said the University administration.
When protest groups refused to disband, Massachusetts police arrested 102 individuals on April 27, releasing students with proper identification but subjecting them to university disciplinary actions; others faced legal charges for trespassing and disorderly conduct.
Renata Nyul, Northeastern’s vice president for communications, announced that the protests involved severe anti-Semitic insults.
Ms. Nyul explained that what started as a student-led protest has been “infiltrated by professional organizers” who have no ties to the university.
“Earlier this morning the Northeastern University Police Department—in cooperation with local law enforcement partners—began clearing an unauthorized encampment on the university’s Boston campus,” Ms. Nyul said. “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 anti-Semitic slurs, including ‘Kill the Jews,’ crossed the line. We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus.”
More intense physical confrontations took place at Emerson College. Protesters had set up numerous tents on public streets and plazas near the college. On April 25, Boston police, enforcing city ordinances, ordered the occupiers to leave. Released footage showed intense skirmishes between demonstrators and police, resulting in 108 arrests, with three officers lightly injured and one seriously injured.
The day before the violence, Emerson College had warned that the tent sites were not entirely on school property, but included public streets enforced by Boston police.
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, representing the downtown area, expressed support for free speech and peaceful protest but condemned violations of municipal regulations.
