This story was updated on Sunday, May 5 at 12:50 p.m.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) raided The New School’s Gaza Solidarity encampment and made 45 arrests starting at around 7 a.m. this morning whilst students were asleep in the University Center and Parsons School of Design building at 2 W 13th St. NYPD confirmed the number of arrests on a call with the New School Free Press.

According to a post on TNS SJP’s Instagram page, around 150 officers arrived at the university, allegedly with no warning or time to allow protesters to leave, despite a message from an unnamed university official informing students that they would be given a notification and warning prior to actions. 

Today marks 13 days since the start of the encampment where students and faculty have been occupying the University Center and the Parsons School of Design buildings, demanding divestment and financial transparency from the University. 

On May 2, community members formed a “human blockade” at the UC and Kerrey Hall, stating that they would not move until the Board of Trustees voted on divestment from companies funding Israel. The rally was met with counter-protesters who repeatedly approached the demonstrators as they chanted, sang, and danced in support of Palestine. 

At the peak of police presence, approximately 40 NYPD officers were present in front of the UC, dispersing around 1 a.m. No action was taken against students yesterday, despite threats from the administration to “bring police in” if the main entrance to Kerrey remained blocked.

At 9:17 a.m., after arrests were made, Interim President Donna E. Shalala sent a university-wide email, stating that the university had “no choice but to protect the rights of our students to access their residence halls, classrooms, library, and cafeteria.” 

Shalala was seen outside the UC speaking with the NYPD and Thomas Iliceto, the director of campus safety at The New School, according to an Instagram video by @dawabisabikid.

Shalala stated that she asked the NYPD to clear all encampments at the University Center, Kerrey Hall, and the Parsons building. The email also stated that the NYPD allegedly issued a warning allowing students to leave before making arrests, saying that many chose to stay. 

“As offensive as the protesters’ language and posters are to many of us, my decision is about their conduct, not speech. It is also about safety as well as the protesters’ irresponsible conduct,” Shalala said. 

The Provost’s office also sent out an email at 10 p.m. last night, providing advance information to faculty members who were holding classes this morning. The email informed faculty of continued activity at the encampment, saying “should you wish to move your class online, please alert your students as soon as possible as follows: provide asynchronous/alternative assignments, schedule a make-up session, meet offsite, or another alternative, as appropriate.”  

Campus Safety then sent out an email at 9:26 a.m. today, stating that all academic buildings would be closed until tomorrow, Saturday, May 4, and that Friday’s classes would be held online. 

At around 10 a.m., university staff were seen collecting items from the encampment and putting them in large bins. At 11 a.m. around 5 students were witnessed in front of the UC with signs, and administrators on the scene declined to provide comment to the New School Free Press stating that they had signed non-disclosure agreements. 

TNS community members are now gathered at One Police Plaza to support students as they are being released.

An earlier version of this story mentioned that only 43 students were arrested. Updated information from the NYPD confirmed that the correct number was 45.