STORY & PHOTOS BY LEV D. ZILBERMINTS
NEWARK – Depending on whose narrative the reader is hearing, the pro-Palestinian encampment at Rutgers – Newark Law School was either “raided” or peacefully “dismantled by the protesters.”
In preparing this article, “Local Talk” used its own video, photographs, and news accounts from other media sources that covered the June 12 rally and press-conference at Newark City Hall. Credit is given to the various sources, as per standard journalism practice.
On June 12, 2024, the pro-Palestinian protesters held a 9 a.m. rally at City Hall in Newark. This was followed by a press conference at 11:15 a.m. Media representatives from Patch.com, Public Square Amplified, TapInto.Net, “Local Talk”, NJTV, all provided coverage of the rally and the press conference.
Clash over a flag draped over the shoulders of a George Floyd statue
In what looked to be a sign of contention between Newark Solidarity Coalition and Newark security, a scuffle broke out by the George Floyd statue. The subject of the argument was whether the red-black-green flag should be hanging from the statue’s shoulders. The female security guard said no, the coalition members said it was freedom of speech.
As protesters and security argued, people from both sides stepped in to de-escalate the situation. The flag remained draped over the George Floyd statue’s shoulders. Both the security guard and the protesters stepped away. Nearby Newark Police officers did not interfere. They preferred to observe what was going on.
Food and Drink available
A table with food stood nearby, opposite the City Hall. Free bagels with cream cheese and orange juice were available to anyone who was hungry and thirsty. Many attendees availed themselves of the opportunity to eat, drink and replenish their energies for a long day ahead of them.
Attendance at the rally
The rally was attended by at least 30 people. “Local Talk” counted at least 10 Newark police and a few City Hall security guards in attendance. However, the police and security did not interfere with the rally or the press conference.
Many attendees wore keffiyehs, the white – black or red-white checkered kerchiefs often seen in the Middle Eastern countries. Other attendees wore clothes in the colors of the Palestinian, green-red-white-black, flag.
At the press conference, Newark Solidarity Coalition (NSC) members gave their side of the story about the “forced” dispersal of the Rutgers – Newark Law School encampment on June 9. NSC members accused Rutgers-Newark administration of lying, using force, not giving protesters enough time to pack up everything, and more.
The Rutgers-Newark Law School encampment has lasted 40 days, May 1 – June 9, 2024.
The account of a professor who witnessed the June 9 events. Dispersal of encampment.
Professor Simeon Marsalis, of Rutgers-Newark’s English Department, gave a detailed account of what happened just after 7 a.m., June 9.
Professor Marsalis said that he sought a meeting with the interim chancellor, Jeffrey Robinson, to allow protesters more time to pack up. However, the interim chancellor only gave the Newark Solidarity Coalition 15 minutes to pack up and leave.
According to Marsalis, this was a tense situation. Describing it, Marsalis said, “People are afraid that they would be arrested.”
Simeon Marsalis said, “We do not want to send police on campus.” The attendees shouted in unison, “Shame!”
Professor Marsalis said, “While we were literally surrounded by Newark PD. They then put out their statement by furthering their lies and deceit. While the city claimed that they were there simply for traffic control; assistance, the presence of an armored special operations vehicle and countless Newark PD cops and cars dispels this outright lie.”
Another group chorus of “Shame!”
Prof. Marsalis continued, “This division in their own words consists of a specially trained technical team deployed for high risk incidents including barricaded persons, armed individuals, and other tactical incidents. Those of us encamped were nothing but peaceful for 40 days, yet, like the New Brunswick encampment, we were met with the armed forces of the state.
“The Mayor and city police have claimed that their only involvement was when they detained a male adult while a crowd was surrounding a Rutgers Police officer. I can assure you that at no point were the police officers outnumbered. There was never a crowd surrounding Rutgers cops. And the person who was detained was trying to get past the police to get his family member who was encamped with us. They viciously pushed him to the ground while cops put their knees to his back.”
Another chorus, “Shame!”
Marsalis pointed out that police responded with force towards both the detained man, himself, and other protesters.
According to Marsalis, “A bunch of cops crowded one man, not the other way around. I want to record this incident to make sure there would be evidence. Seeing that the police refused to let the legal observers in the camp. As I was clearly recording the incident, the PD officer pushed me. When I asked him not to touch me, he told me to shut up.”
Another group chorus, “Shame!”
Marsalis continued, “Others of us were touched by Newark PD though there was no discernable threat to Newark PD. Just a black man face down in the dirt being detained by the University and Newark police.
“Continuing in their disinformation campaign, Newark police claim they provided mutual help for crown control. Such language is a misrepresentation of reality at best, dangerous and inappropriate at worst.
“Police said they were performing mutual aid when in reality Newark PD and University PD were operating to destroy mutual aid that they saw at the encampment.”
The listeners applauded at this point.
Marsalis said that the coalition was helping the homeless, feeding the hungry, giving medical care, and providing education. Then the police came and disrupted everything.
Marsalis said, “The solidarity coalition was performing mutual aid by housing the houseless, feeding the hungry, giving medical care to the uninsured and providing education through the people’s library and countless teachings all of which were done w/o charge. Newark police came in, violating campers privacy, ripping open tent doors. If these acts to them represent mutual aid, it is clear that we need to abolish the entire department.”
The rally attendees applauded Professor Marsalis.
Marsalis continued, “After Newark police cleared the Newark encampment by force, with officers literally flexing their muscles and installing metal barricades to bar students, faculty and members of Rutgers Newark beloved community from the supposedly public institution. The Newark officer who arrogantly flexed their muscles has been placed on the disciplinary “investigation.”
“Shame!” shouted the rally attendees.
Marsalis continued, “But we see thru this tactic. It is simply theater as fellow officers Rod Simkins who murdered Cal Dorsey in 2021 was placed under “internal investigation” as well yet faced no criminal charges.
“Shame!” shouted the listeners.
Marsalis continued, “An hour after all this occurred, Mayor Baraka said on Twitter telling citizens concerned with the brash police response “No police investigation – no right to speak!”
The listeners again shouted, “Shame!”
Newark mayor caught misrepresenting the facts. Videos show what really happened
Marsalis continued, “Despite him not once being on the ground, Baraka continued lying, claiming Newark police did not remove students or participate in dismantling the encampments. We have not once sent police on the campus. The videos show a different story. They show folks old and young afraid; they show police putting their hands on campers, they show the university throwing our art and valuables because people who have been encamped for 40 days were not moving fast enough…”
“…They showed the despair of people fighting to get the university to stop investing in a government that is actively facilitating a genocide being shown how business is done as usual.
“…The level of trauma they caused us will have effects for years to come.
In conclusion, the Newark Solidarity Coalition demands the following immediate actions from Rutgers Admin and the city. We ask that a full and independent investigation into the Newark Police Department and Rutgers Conduct and Rutgers complicity in the incident on June 9th be conducted. “
Stormy applause greeted these remarks. After silence again reigned, Professor Marsalis continued speaking. A number of demands were given by the Newark Solidarity Coalition.
“We ask for public disclosure of Rutgers U financial dealings and real estate holdings as relayed in our communication with the chancellor’s office, a question they refused to answer before dismantling our camp.
“We ask for formal apologies from Mayor Baraka and Rutgers U leadership acknowledging their roles in mismanaging and misrepresentation of the event.
“We ask for guarantees against retaliation for all students, faculty and community members that were involved in the encampment.
“On behalf of the Student Coalition I want to thank everybody for coming out today.
“Follow us on Instagram. It is at Newark Solidarity Coalition,” Professor Marsalis said, ending the press conference.
Administrators never responded to proposed meeting dates
Professor Marsalis described giving Rutgers – Newark administration at least four or five different dates and times when Newark Solidarity Coalition negotiators could be together for a meeting with Rutgers – Newark officials. This was about a week before June 9. R-N officials maintained “radio silence” according to NSC spokesman as seen on the June 12 video.
“Local Talk” wrote in its June 13 issue how the pro-Palestinian encampment was broken up by campus and city police forces. The relevant excerpts from the lengthy Rutgers – Newark statement are cited here.
Rutgers – Newark officials said in their statement that the protesters repeatedly violated university fire safety policies by the unsafe use of extension cords from Rutgers buildings and unpermitted use of open flames for cooking. Also, “ongoing defacement of property (e.g., graffiti on buildings), attempting to erect a large structure on the site, violations of ID use and building access policies, intensifying and expanding the degradation of the campus environment, and repeatedly delaying in-person negotiations because members of their designated negotiating team were elsewhere.”
Unanswered Questions
Assuming the protesters are being truthful about giving dates and meeting times, the question arises, why did not the administration respond to the proposed dates and times?
Another unanswered question is whether the Newark Solidarity Coalition understands that some of their demands cannot be met by Rutgers University. Rutgers being a corporate entity, it does not have to list how its assets are or are not connected to Israel. Rutgers did agree to meet 8 demands. These included more housing; tuition – free program; legal aid; free health care for Newark city residents and other needs.
A third question is whether the City of Newark was telling the truth about its police officers’ role in disbanding the pro-Palestinian encampment at Rutgers Newark Law School.
“Local Talk” published the text of the Joint Statement from the City of Newark and Department of Public Safety in its June 13 edition. Relevant sections of that statement are cited here.
According to the Joint Statement, “Newark Police Officers did not engage nor participate in the dismantling of the encampment until three Newark Police officers, who were conducting traffic control on the streets outside of Rutgers University, observed a crowd surrounding two Rutgers Police. The University’s Police officers had detained an adult male following a foot pursuit. Newark Police officers provided mutual aid for traffic control. When the crowd was dispersed, Rutgers Police detained the suspect, who was then released from the campus. Newark Police returned to their traffic control locations. No arrests were made by Newark Police.”
