Pro-Palestinian Groups Announce Plans to Commemorate October 7 As “Resistance” and Start of “Student Intifada”
Over the Fall semester, various pro-Palestinian student groups have reaffirmed their presence at NYU, leading rallies throughout Lower Manhattan and across campus. Following suit, the dissenting students have announced plans to recognize “One Year of Student Intifada” and “resistance by any means” on the anniversary of October 7.
Last year, after the Hamas terror attack on October 7, many students became active in anti-Israel student groups, initiating months of tense campus protests.
The coalition of groups including “NYU’s Students for Justice in Palestine,” “NYU’s Solidarity Coalition,” and “NYU’s Students for Democratic Society,” have characterized the Israeli-Hamas war as a genocide, reiterating accusations that NYU is “affiliated with Zionist institutions.”
Pro-Palestine Protest Overtakes Washington Square Park in October of 2023 (The NYU Review)
In a statement this past Friday, “NYU’s Students for Democratic Society” marked the October 7 attack as the initiation of the “Student Intifada,” urging classmates to reject “school as usual during a genocide.” The group also shared a collaborative protest with student factions from City Tech College, documenting plans to recognize the resistance of genocide “by any means necessary” on the anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack.
Many anti-Israel student groups have publicly branded Hamas’ attack on October 7 as a legitimate form of “struggle” or “resistance.” The United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and countless others have condemned this perception, referencing the “brutal murders of more than a thousand innocent civilians” on October 7, 2023.
The groups have also maintained that over 186,000 Palestinians have died in the recent conflict, far exceeding the assertions of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.
One of the Instagram posts promoting the planned protests for October 7. (@nyusds on Instagram)
Regardless, the dissenters have presented four public demands for NYU, including divestment from Israeli goods and institutions, the removal of any police presence on campus, and an alteration in policy toward anti-Zionist rhetoric.
Previously, NYU had dismissed similar demands, defending its academic presence in Tel Aviv, and hundreds of students enrolled at the international campus. Despite this, student groups continue to deride university leadership, presenting their latest list of demands on Friday.
“1. Disclosure and divestment from all companies aiding Israel in its genocide and occupation of Palestine.
2. Cut all ties with monster institutions.
3. NYPD off our campuses.
4. Protect pro-Palestinian speech on campus and amnesty for all students punished by universities and/or NYC for their rightful activism.”
As of this morning, there is no indication that any University staff member has considered the demands.
Meanwhile, last week, several pro-Palestinian groups refused to complete NYU’s Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Training, insisting that the policies made Zionist students a “protected class.” The accusation delineated the recent update to NYU’s code of conduct which rejected campus discourse that used “Zionist” as a slur.
The decision, detailed in a university-distributed email, coincided with a larger push from college administrators to address incidents of hate crimes against Jewish students. In fact, last year, several students at NYU filed suit against the University, expressing concern about its handling of rising antisemitism and combative protests on campus.
According to one student at NYU's Schack Institute of Real Estate, “the recent plans to celebrate October 7th are deeply offensive. Hundreds of Jewish students are still mourning the deaths of those executed by Hamas terrorists last month.” The student, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, raised fears that demonstrating for terrorist groups in the United States had become normalized.
Anti-Israel Protestors Display Support for Hamas outside the United Nations in September 2024. (The NYU Review)
NYU’s Hillel has also outlined plans for October 6 and 7, aiming to commemorate the loss of life in Israel and offer a place for students to grieve collectively.
The NYU Review is monitoring the situation for further developments.
