Local campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war continued Thursday, with demonstrators at Northeastern setting up an encampment on the school's Centennial Common.
One chant in the early afternoon called for a “free Palestine,” and another demanded the university “disclose and divest.”
August Escandon, a graduating senior and a spokesperson for the demonstrators, called the encampment the “Northeastern Gaza solidarity liberation zone.”
“For the last six months, there has been a nonstop barrage of missiles and bombs and starvation in Palestine — in Gaza, specifically. And we’re here to protest that and bring awareness, especially because Northeastern is complicit in this genocide of the Palestinian people,” Escandon said. “We’re here in hopes that Northeastern will listen to the demands of the organization setting this up — Huskies for a Free Palestine.”
Huskies for a Free Palestine is demanding that the university disclose its holdings and investments in Israeli companies, sever those connections, and denounce “Israel’s genocide in Palestine.”
Dozens of protestors linked arms around the encampment amid reports of possible arrests in the afternoon. Videos circulating on social media showed Northeastern police officers telling demonstrators that they could face arrest if they didn't vacate the premises.
GBH News also spoke with two Boston residents who came to show their support for students but are unaffiliated with the university.
Erin, who said she lived in Roxbury and did not share her last name, was standing near the protest as a show of solidarity with students.
“I support the students in continuing to elevate the issue and, basically, in their activism,” she said.
Another resident, Sage, lives locally and agreed with the students’ message. Sage joined in when protesters were linked in a circle.
“I live locally, and I want to get involved in protesting and doing what I can to show up for Palestine and Palestinians,” Sage told GBH News.
A student, Matthew Garchik, was frustrated with the encampment. Garchick is a third-year Northeastern student who is on the boards of Chabad and Huskies for Israel.
“I wish I could get it across to people that you’re not doing anything,” Garchik said. “You’re not helping the Palestinian people right now. The thing that would help the Palestinian people is to fight Hamas in whatever way you can.”
He’s also frustrated with Northeastern faculty who are broadly voicing their support for students.
“Which students? Do you support me?” he said. “Because you supporting this is not supporting me.”
The establishment of the Northeastern encampment came hours after a similar encampment at Emerson College was cleared out by police, with more than 100 students arrested.
College encampments have been set up at campuses across the country in recent days. Besides Northeastern and Emerson, local actions have taken place at MIT and Tufts University. And on Wednesday, Harvard students set up an encampment in Harvard Yard despite the university's efforts to prevent protests tied to the war in Gaza.
