At least three anti-Israel agitators, including a knucklehead in a tree, were arrested Thursday as chaotic protests erupted at CUNY’s City College campus – just hours after Gov. Kathy Hochul canceled an event there over security fears.
Two separate protests from both City College and Barnard College – where rabblerousers seized a building Wednesday – merged outside a Harlem CUNY campus building, chanting slogans and waving Palestinian flags.
Hochul had been scheduled to make a workforce development announcement alongside former New York Rep. Charles Rangel at the building, but officials canceled the event at the last-minute amid fears it’d be disrupted by the campus chaos.
Two separate protests from both City College and Barnard College merged outside a Harlem CUNY campus building. James Keivom
Protesters leaving Milbank Hall at Barnard College in New York, NY on February 26, 2025. Christopher Sadowski
Anti-Israel demonstrators staged a sit-in at the Barnard administration offices Won ednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. Instagram/cuapartheiddivest
“Due to safety concerns, we made the decision to postpone today’s event at Shepherd Hall,” a spokesperson for City College said in a statement.
Despite officials scrapping the event, the protest outside City College swelled to roughly 70 provocateurs, who tauntingly shouted “Kathy Hochul you can’t hide” and “We charge you with genocide” at the absent governor.
A growing contingent of NYPD cops, with zip ties in their belts, set up barriers in the blocks around the campus.
Hochul cancelled her previously planned event due to the protests. James KeivomThe barricades managed to block another contingent of keffiyeh-wearing protesters who marched down from Columbia University’s Barnard College to join the City College group, in hopes of merging the twin anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian rallies.
“Long live the intifada,” the Barnard protesters chanted as they edged closer to the cops.
Tensions rose as cops held the line against the increasingly angry and bold protesters.
NYPD cops set up barriers in the blocks surrounding the campus. James Keivom
Kathy Hochul speaks to reporters on Feb. 25, 2025. Hans PenninkOne protester even climbed a tree and hovered in the branches above the crowd.
As cops began to clash with protesters, they eventually let the dual demonstrations merge – a maneuver that allowed police to encircle the rally.
Police officers appeared to arrest at least three protesters, including the man in the tree, amid the chaos.
City College agitator Megan Yang, 23, was busted for allegedly snatching a cop’s bodycam that fell on the ground and trying to run off with it. She was charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
Khan Furkan, 21, and Ahmad Choudhury Mashud, 22, were charged with obstruction of governmental administration at the Barnard melee.
The three-hour protest wound down about 5:30 p.m. as demoralized demonstrators marched away from City College.
