Vigil for the Martyrs of Palestine and Lebanon taking place at Washington Mews, across from Weinstein dorm

On November 15, five Pro-Palestine instagram accounts (@nyuLSJP, @nyu_fsjp, @shutitdownnyu, @nyu_sjp, @jews.against.zionism, and @nyu_solidarity) co-posted an announcement on Instagram detailing plans for a “Vigil For The Martyrs of Palestine and Lebanon” to be held at the “Washington Mews gates.”

Today, the demonstration occurred as promised, across the street from NYU’s Weinstein residence hall– home to the only Kosher eatery on campus, making it a hub for many Jewish students. The demonstration also sat in extremely close proximity to NYU’s Taub Center for Israel Studies, another hub for Jewish and Israeli students on campus.

Advertised as going from “1PM-late”, demonstrators set up around the gate to NYU’s Mews, spreading out two long lists with names of those killed in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Around the gate, students draped long red strings, hung flowers and taped up photos of those deemed martyrs. Keffiyeh clad students scribbled messages central to the movement like “Free Palestine,” “Arms Embargo Now,” and “NYU Out of Palestine” in chalk along the sidewalk as well as on posters.

Among these martyrs is Dr. Refaat Al Areer, who decided to take his martyrdom to X , responding to a post made by the CEO and editor-in-chief of the Algemeiner newspaper, Dovid Efune.

Efune’s post, which stated that “A baby was found in an oven, baked to death by Hamas terrorists,” was met with Areer’s response: “With or without baking powder?” dismissing the post as “Zionist propaganda.”

The students are reportedly still protesting at the gates and it is unclear when they plan to depart.

This is a developing story. Check back for more updates and follow for more news.