The Issue: The hectic protest at Washington Square Park near NYU amid similar events at Columbia.
Palestinian supporters have the right to protest in American colleges, including New York University (“100 busts, tents tossed at NYU,” April 23).
But what they don’t have the right to do is to stop Jewish students from getting to class.
They have the right to protest in public, but they don’t have the right to stop traffic on bridges and prevent people from getting to where they need to go.
And just because the United Nations and college students want a cease-fire, doesn’t mean that either Iran or Hamas wants one.
The minute that Israel retreats from Gaza, Iran and Hamas will start attacking it.
Edward Drossman
Manhattan
Liberal college students are supporting Hamas, who are terrorists backed by Iran.
It’s absolutely disgraceful.
No American should ever support terrorism.
We really need to unite before we destroy ourselves from within.
Tom Scott
Spotswood, NJ
This hatred and antisemitism can easily be stopped by calling in the National Guard.
This is like the hateful anti-integration protests in Little Rock in 1957, which were stopped by former President Dwight Eisenhower.
It is very sad that it has come to this, but unfortunately it has.
We shouldn’t wait until somebody gets killed.
All of this should call into question the teaching in our universities and high schools.
Charles Winfield
Princeton, NJ
As an NYU student, it is clear that the narrative of law and order is being weaponized to silence pro-Palestinian students at NYU.
The university collaborated with the NYPD to silence student protesters standing in solidarity with those at Columbia.
And now Zionists at NYU will be emboldened by the mass arrest of pro-Palestinian NYU students, as the NYPD have successfully locked up their opposition.
Justin Torba
Manhattan
Protesting college students are legal adults.
And if they want to be treated like adults, they need to start acting it.
But if their schools won’t corral them, Jewish students must form a student union dedicated to ensuring their safety and demand police protection as they go about their business on campus.
And if police and campus security can’t corral these protesters, Jewish students need to take up a collective and hire a private security force or a security expert to teach them how to form their own.
Stuart Ellison
Brooklyn
Today we are faced with large gatherings, as city roads and squares are being taken over by various protest groups thanks to the Israel-Palestine dilemma.
Law-enforcement officers doing their jobs are being pelleted, causing serious injuries to them and innocent bystanders.
These actions may continue for the foreseeable future, as the current disputes appear to have no acceptable solutions.
Also, more protests may surface soon, as many protesters appear to relish their place in civil disobedience.
Bob Sweeney
Warwick, RI
When the protesters shout “Death to America,” who do they want to live?
Joe Markovic
Boynton Beach, Fla.
The coverage of the NYU protests has been horrendous.
Despite the groundless arrests of protesters, all anyone can comment on is the unsafe environment for Jewish students.
But stop and consider that many protest coalitions are led by Jewish organizers.
At the forefront of pro-Palestinian organizing is a large anti-Israel population in academia.
However, all anyone can do is malign us as antisemites.
Not to mention, the NYPD arrested Muslim students beginning their prayer at Columbia, a telling sign of unspoken Islamophobia in America.
Patrick Corker
Jacksonville, Ill.
Simple solution: End the suspensions.
Instead, there should be expulsions for any students breaking rules that relate to violent actions or documented threats.
No refunds.
Peter Welch
Carmel
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