Ulster County officials have reacted to the arrests of more than 130 students and community members who staged a pro-Palestinian protest on SUNY New Paltz’s campus last week.
County Executive Jen Metzger has called the response of law enforcement, which included New York State Police and the Ulster County Sheriff’s office, disproportionate.
“Last Thursday night, we saw 132 people arrested in Parker Quad at SUNY New Paltz in a show of force by State police. The students were engaging in peaceful protest and standing up for what they fervently believe, and the response of law enforcement was disproportionate to the scene in front of them. I have already communicated my concerns about the police response to officials in Albany,” Metzger said in a prepared statement. “I know President (Darrell) Wheeler to be a thoughtful leader, and know he faced difficult decisions that day — decisions that will have lasting consequences for the campus community. Students, faculty members, and community members have understandably expressed shock and dismay about what transpired that evening. Moving forward from here, much work must be done to rebuild trust, with open dialogue and communication about why events unfolded and escalated the way they did.”
Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa also issued a statement, defending law enforcement, saying that rules and laws must be abided by to avoid being a detriment to others.
“Despite continuous requests from SUNY New Paltz, demonstrators refused to adhere to proper procedure and protocols for using campus property,” Figueroa said. “Numerous complaints were received from non-participating students and parents, expressing the demonstrators were disrupting their education. Despite warnings, the demonstrators expanded their encampment near Gage Hall, well beyond the permitted designated free speech zone and caused it to be an unlawful assembly.”
Students have started a petition calling for school administration to acquit students of potential and threatened academic consequences, claiming that students are being unfairly punished for their right to free speech. Some students have also called for SUNY New Paltz President Wheeler to resign.