BUFFALO, N.Y. — Pro-Palestine protests grew on on the University at Buffalo north campus on Friday, with the the most recent demonstration going from dozens to hundreds.
The protesters told 2 On your Side that they want school leaders to stop investing in Israel, citing that nation's war with Hamas and its actions in Gaza.
During Friday's protest, people marched across UB's campus, and speaking up about what they called "police brutality" in response to Wednesday's demonstration, where 15 people were arrested outside Hochstetter Hall after they were asked to leave. Ten of those people had no affiliation with the school.
No arrests were made Thursday or Friday, despite more and more people joining the campus protests.
Student organizers, in advance, said they would not speak with any media during Friday's event.
UB issued a statement about Friday's protests, saying, in part: "UB Police and other law enforcement personnel were present on Friday to ensure public order and that protests did not disrupt university operations or activities. This included turning away individuals attempting to enter the campus in cars with camping equipment."
The school added: "As a result, most classes, events, meetings and lectures on Friday afternoon and evening occurred without interruption. UB also hosted a commencement ceremony on the North Campus, with roughly 150 UB graduates and approximately 1,200 friends, family and school officials in attendance."
The school added in its statement that it will continue to fight "against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and discrimination of any form."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, New York issued a statement Friday, condemning UB and other schools across the state for what it called the arrests of peaceful protesters.
"Students have been peacefully assembling, while universities are inviting violence onto campus by bringing in law enforcement. Police are being used to intimidate, harass, and ultimately escalate tensions on campus," the statement read in part.