NYU Jewish Students Speak Out Against Anti-Israel Agitators on Campus: ‘Speechless’

A large demonstration by anti-Israel agitators at New York University (NYU) was met with condemnation from Jewish students and onlookers passing by on Monday, with many of those present verbally expressing their displeasure at the rowdy scene.

“I don’t think they know why they’re protesting,” Natalie, a Jewish student at New York University, told Fox News Digital.

“I think there are a lot of educated, educated people in their own group, but I think there are a lot of people who really have no idea what they’re doing. They want to be part of something bigger. Gang mentality. Call it what you want. It’s not real,” he added.

Bystanders accused protesters of being “influence chasers” and “TikTok wannabes” uninformed about the current situation in Israel and Gaza. Anti-Israel activists repeatedly attempted to disrupt interviews between Jews and journalists. Still, they refused to appear on camera themselves to communicate their message.

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Fox News Digital approached approximately 30 protesters espousing anti-Israel messages, carrying Palestinian flags or holding other signs critical of the Jewish state. All of them declined the opportunity when asked to speak.

They stood and chanted in a closed area that later spread to the street in front of New York University’s Stern School of Business.

A group covering their faces and wearing T-shirts that said “Free Palestine” held signs and shouted: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” They also hit pieces of metal to encourage the audience to applaud.

“Settlers, settlers, let’s go home. Palestine is our home,” chanted a large group of protesters with megaphones. Many wore masks.

Later, a woman led protesters in a chant of “there is only one solution: the intifada revolution.”

One person in the crowd, who asked to remain anonymous, said he believes the recent anti-Israel demonstrations, while permitted, are a form of “self-gratification.” He took issue with a photograph of Yacoub Qadri, an Islamic Jihad terrorist, displayed by protesters.

“These are leftists. They generally support terrorism,” he said.

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A crowd watches as anti-Israel protesters chant outside New York University’s Stern School of Business on April 22, 2024. (Nikolas Lanum/Fox News Digital)

The man said many New Yorkers he has spoken to feel the same way about the protests.

“Look, killing children is bad. But is this going to change anything? No, stop it! Shut up,” he said.

Many of the anti-Israel protesters on campus became violent that same night, throwing bottles at police officers sent to disperse a large, unruly crowd, authorities said.

New York City Police Department sources confirmed to Fox News on Tuesday that law enforcement arrested 133 protesters using zip ties and flexible handcuffs to remove protesters from campus. They were taken on a bus to the police station and charged with trespassing, the sources added.

A New York University spokesperson said the school was “deeply disturbed” by the event and suggested that many protesters were not affiliated with the school.

“This violation violated the instructions of campus security officials and multiple university rules,” the spokesperson added.

Guy, a sophomore at New York University, told Fox News Digital that he is a proud Jew and doesn’t want what happened at Columbia University to spread to his campus.

“I want Jews to feel safe,” Guy said.

He also suggested that anti-Israel protesters chose April 22 specifically to hold their event because they knew that most Jews would be celebrating Passover, allowing them to appear as the majority.

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Protesters at New York University on April 22 accused the school of being complicit in genocide. (Nikolas Lanum/Fox News Digital)

Guy said his Jewish family, friends and classmates favor a two-state solution for Israel and Gaza, but also believe in the protection and development of Israel (Zionism).

“For some reason, there is a misunderstanding on the part of [anti-Israel protesters] who believes that all Jews do not believe in Arab rights and do not believe in these things, and it is because they have decided to Americanize the issue of the Middle East conflict,” he said.

“They’ve decided to look like Jews, white Arabs, darker blacks. That’s what they’ve decided to do. And so, they say, Whitey bad, Whitey would never want to have, you know, peace. But that’s just not the case.”

Guy and Natalie said they wanted Jewish voices to be heard and create a stronger dialogue between people on all sides of the issue.

“I just want to foster a better environment for people to learn and a place, an educational institution, where you are supposed to be confident, where you are supposed to come to class ready to learn and where you are supposed to come with a clear mind and an open heart. This doesn’t encourage that. No one is doing a good job of stopping it; no one is doing a good job of controlling this,” Natalie said. “I don’t even know what to say right now. I’m speechless.”

ANTI-ISRAEL CAMPUS PROTESTS ARE SPREADING: CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS PREPARE AFTER ACTIVISTS INVADE COLUMBIA AND YALE

NYPD officers make mass arrests of anti-Israel agitators as they stage a demonstration outside the New York University Stern School of Business in Manhattan, New York, on Monday, April 22, 2024. Protesters organized a camp of tents in front of the school while demanding a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Gaza. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)

He admitted that, unlike some of his peers, he may have a false sense of security serving in the Israeli military. Natalie is still walking, feeling like she is still in uniform and carrying her gun. But the only thing she has left is the Star of David necklace that she wears in public.

“This is my protection,” he said, holding up the pendant. “I am proud of who I am and I will always be grateful. I will always have time to protest loud and proud.”

Natalie said the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks affected her personally. She witnessed the aftermath as protesters tore down hostage signs that she recognized as photographs of people she and her family knew.

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“There’s been a lot of anti-Semitic rhetoric on campus. There’s been a lot of hate. There’s been a lot of people who don’t feel comfortable walking around with their kippahs on. And to me, that’s extremely, extremely sad,” he said. .

“I don’t know if you can tell, but I’m a little upset right now. You know, it’s hard. Listen, it’s not just here. It’s at Columbia and a lot of different campuses all over the United States, all over the world. “Ultimately , Jews need to feel united and safe, and they don’t feel safe right now,” Natalie said.

New York University did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News’ Chris Pandolfo and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.