Jewish students lock themselves in Cooper Union school library during anti-Israel rally
Jewish students at Cooper Union lock themselves in a school library as protesters moved through the hallways on Wednesday, banging on doors and windows.
Jewish students at a New York City college were locked inside a school library on Wednesday as a pro-Palestinian rally moved through the building, with protesters banging on the doors and chanting ‘free, free Palestine,’ video shows.
Video of the students in the library made the rounds on social media, on Wednesday afternoon.
In one video, protesters were seen outside the library as Jewish students sit at a table and attempt to study.
DOZENS ARRESTED OUTSIDE WHITE HOUSE DURING PROTEST OVER ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
A pro-Palestinian protest moves through Cooper Union in New York City on Wednesday, as Jewish students remained in the library, which was reportedly locked for their safety. (Credit: Taylor Roslyn Lent)
On the other side of the glass, students are seen holding up signs protesting Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
Jake Novak, the former media director at the Israeli Consulate in New York, posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that several Jewish students were locked in the school library at about 5:15 p.m.
JEWISH AMERICAN STUDENTS OUTRAGED BY RISING ANTISEMITISM IN US AMID HAMA TERROR ATTACKS ON ISRAEL
"My sources tell me several Jewish students [at Cooper Union] are currently locked in the school library as a [pro] Hamas rally outside of the Cooper Union building learnt [sic] the Jews were afraid and sitting in the library, then brought the protest inside and are barricading all exits," he posted. "Police have been called for 40 min and are afraid to get involved. Security locked the students in as they are worried they cannot protect the Jews [right now].
He also shared video of the Jewish students standing in the library as banging could be heard coming from outside.
Just before 6 p.m., Novak shared that the "besieged" Jewish students were safe and were led out of the library through tunnels.
GRANDSON OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS BLAMES COLLEGES AFTER STUDENTS PROTEST AT VIGIL FOR SLAIN ISRAELIS
The New York City Police Department did not immediately respond to inquiries about the matter and Novak’s claims about the police being "afraid to get involved."
Still, City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino shared her opinion on the video making the rounds on social media.
"No big deal, just a few Jewish kids barricaded in a library while a mob tries to break the doors down to get them," she said. "At a prestigious university in New York City. In 2023. Things are going swimmingly in our progressive city."
TENSIONS LEAD TO UNREST AT PRO-PALESTINIAN RALLIES ACROSS US CITIES
When asked about the reports of several Jewish students being locked in a library at Cooper Union because they were afraid during the rally, school officials said the reports were not true.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"The Library was closed for approximately 20 minutes while student protestors moved through our building," the official said. "Some students who were previously in the library remained during this time. All students have now dispersed."
