Boston, Massachusetts – Over 100 individuals faced arrest, and four police officers sustained injuries during a confrontation with Boston police early Thursday at Emerson College. The clash occurred as authorities worked to clear a pro-Palestinian encampment set up by students in Boylston Place Alley, demonstrating solidarity with protesters at Columbia University arrested earlier in the week.
An Emerson student recounted an announcement made at 1 a.m. warning of arrests for anyone remaining in the alley off Boylston Street. Subsequently, Boston police emerged from the Massachusetts Transportation Building around 2 a.m. and proceeded through the crowd within the alley, as captured in video footage showing officers in protective gear.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of students complying with police directives and being taken into custody peacefully, though some individuals reportedly resisted arrest. In response, a total of 108 people were arrested, with one police officer sustaining serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Following the incident, Emerson College President Jay Bernhard notified students via email of class cancellations for Thursday. Boylston Place Alley, where the encampment was located, is a public thoroughfare with access rights to non-Emerson properties, including the State Transportation Center. Police vehicles and crime scene tape were visible outside the alley as authorities managed the situation.
Advocates have been pressing educational institutions to endorse a ceasefire in Gaza and disinvest from entities supporting Israel. Shortly after the Emerson incident, pro-Palestinian demonstrators established another encampment at Harvard Yard, underscoring tensions around balancing free speech rights with campus safety.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) emphasized the delicate balance facing colleges in upholding First Amendment rights while ensuring campus security during student demonstrations. Harvard University restricted access to Harvard Yard to individuals with campus IDs and prohibited unauthorized tents and tables. Meanwhile, at MIT, police maintained a presence but had not made any arrests or received threats related to the protests.