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Administrators said that they have “credible reports” of some protesters harassing and targeting Jewish supporters of Israel.
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Emerson school officials are warning the student protesters currently encamping in downtown Boston near Emerson College that law enforcement intervention could be “imminent.”
Boylston Place Alley — where more than 100 students gathered Sunday night and about 50 spent the night as part of a pro-Palestinian protest — is not solely owned by Emerson, the school said Wednesday.
Emerson administration said Boston police and Boston Fire reached out to them on Wednesday, citing a city ordinance prohibiting tents in a public right-of-way. City officials said students are blocking pedestrian access to the alley, are too noisy, and are creating safety hazards by blocking doors and fire hydrants.
“The Commissioners of the BPD and BFD directly informed Emerson’s leadership that some actions of the protestors are in direct violation of city ordinances, which could result in imminent law enforcement action,” Emerson administration said in a statement. “These are not Emerson College rules but laws and ordinances enforced by the city and the commonwealth.”
The school said they support students’ right to protest. Emerson Students for Justice in Palestine — which is not officially affiliated with the university — organized the encampment and are demanding that Emerson cut “all financial ties with Israel,” call for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, and drop disciplinary action against students.
Administrators also said that they have “credible reports” of some protesters harassing and targeting Jewish supporters of Israel, students, staff, faculty, and neighbors passing through the alley.
“This type of behavior is unacceptable on our campus,” read the statement, which was shared with the Emerson community.
Emerson said they’ve contracted Windwalker Security to staff the alley “to ensure safe and consistent access to the alley as required by law.” The security staff have been at the encampment since Tuesday night, Emerson’s student newspaper reported.
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