Pro-Palestinian protests turned violent on Thursday afternoon outside an MIT building in Cambridge, resulting in the arrest of fewer than 10 individuals. The clash between protesters and police occurred near the intersection of Vassar Street and Main Street, starting at around 2 p.m. Witnesses captured images of officers wrestling protesters to the ground and making arrests. Demonstrators holding signs also attempted to block cars exiting a parking garage on Vassar Street, with many protesters linking arms.
The incident caused disruptions on campus, with MIT Emergency Management announcing that the Stata Garage was blocked due to the protest. By 4 p.m., police officers were stationed at the entrance and exit of the parking garage to facilitate the movement of MIT employees and others associated with the university.
Hannah Didehbani, a pro-Palestinian protest organizer and senior at MIT, described the heavy-handed approach taken by law enforcement during the demonstration. She claimed that officers aggressively shoved and tackled protesters, leaving some injured. Didehbani, however, believed that the protest had achieved its goal of capturing the school’s attention. She stated that MIT had ignored their demands for months but was now forced to acknowledge them due to the demonstration.
Despite the dispersal of protesters from the parking garage area by 5 p.m., many vowed to return to their encampment on Kresge Lawn. The ongoing protests have created an atmosphere of chaos and unease on campus, according to Marilyn Meyers, a senior at MIT. Meyers expressed concern for her safety and highlighted instances of students breaking down fences and blocking parking lots without any intervention from authorities.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth addressed the campus community, expressing growing concerns for everyone’s safety after weeks of protests. Kornbluth emphasized the need for urgency in addressing the situation. Students were given until 2:30 p.m. on Monday to vacate their encampment. Failure to comply could result in suspensions, depending on the level of involvement in the demonstration. MIT Chancellor Melissa Nobles also sent a separate letter to students outlining the potential consequences of noncompliance.
While some protesters left the encampment before the deadline, others remained and were later joined by individuals who pushed past barricades to reclaim the area. In the evening, additional protesters blocked traffic on Massachusetts Avenue during rush hour, while a smaller group of counter-protesters emerged. State and local police maintained a perimeter around the encampment but did not intervene.
Amidst these events, MIT’s graduate student union plans to hold an “emergency rally” on Friday to protest the violent arrests of nine graduate workers and students during the demonstration.
As of now, this is an ongoing situation, and further updates will be provided by 7NEWS on-air and online.
