13 Arrested At Princeton University During Pro-Palestinian Protest

PRINCETON, NJ – Thirteen people were arrested Monday night at Princeton University during the pro-Palestinian protest on campus, University President Christopher Eisgruber said.

The protesters were arrested after they briefly occupied Clio Hall, home of the Graduate School, Eisgruber said. No one was injured.

Eisgruber called the occupation of Clio Hall “a serious breach of this University’s code of conduct.”

“All those arrested received summonses for trespassing and have been barred from campus. The students will also face University discipline, which may extend to suspension or expulsion,” Eisgruber said in a message to the community.

“I appreciate that this incident was and remains deeply upsetting to many people, including especially the staff of the Graduate School. It is also completely unacceptable. Everyone on this campus needs to feel safe and to be safe. Faculty, students, and staff must be able to conduct University business without disruption, harassment, or threat. We will continue to work to ensure that this campus is one where all members of the community feel welcome and can thrive.”

The arrest marks a drastic escalation of protests which began on campus April 25.

The protesters are demanding the University divest from companies that are profiting from the Israel-Hamas war. They are calling for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire, a condemnation of Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinians,” and that the university “refrain from association from Israeli academic institutions and businesses,” while cultivating relationships with Palestinian institutions.

Those arrested include five undergraduates, six graduate students, one postdoctoral researcher and one person not affiliated with the University, according to Eisgruber. “I am grateful to our Free Expression Facilitators and Department of Public Safety for quickly resolving this incident, with assistance from the Princeton Police Department. We will continue to be in communication with you about how we move forward together as a community during a period that has challenged colleges and universities across the country,” the University president said.

During the April 25 sit-in, two students were arrested for ignoring the Department of Public Safety’s demand to stop setting up tents on campus.

Meanwhile, a pro-Palestine Gaza solidarity camp was erected Monday afternoon on the Rutgers main campus in New Brunswick.

Despite the ongoing tensions on campus, Eisgruber said he was proud that the vast majority of students, faculty, and staff “have proven themselves able to engage constructively and civilly on even very divisive topics.”

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