BOSTON (WHDH) – Classes were canceled at Emerson College Thursday after police arrested more than 100 protesters overnight at a student-organized pro-Palestine encampment.
A Boston police spokesperson said police arrested 108 protesters. Four officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries while working to maintain control over the situation. No protesters in custody reported any injuries, according to police. Of the injured officers, police said three suffered minor injuries. One suffered serious injuries.
“As we respond to, and process, the events of last night, all classes are canceled for Thursday April 25,” college officials announced near 7:45 a.m. Thursday morning.
Protesters began gathering on Sunday, setting up tents in the Boylston Place alley, which sits between the Massachusetts State Transportation Building and several Emerson College buildings. Emerson warned students on Wednesday they could face consequences for taking part in the demonstration.
In a school-wide email, school officials cautioned the alley is city property, writing, “We are deeply concerned that the protesters are risking legal consequences beyond Emerson’s control when they do not abide by city and state laws.”
Officials also said they received credible reports of some protesters engaging in targeted harassment and intimidation of Jewish supporters of Israel as well as students, faculty and staff trying to get through the alley.
“This type of behavior is unacceptable on our campus,” officials said, adding that they had placed additional security staff in the alley “to ensure safe and consistent access to the alley as required by law.”
Emerson officials said they support peaceful protest but warned they could not keep the city from enforcing local and state ordinances.
“It all happened very quickly,” said Rian Nelson, who was at the protest when police moved in. “The protest happened in an alley and we were on both ends of the alley and the riot…