In a late-night operation on Tuesday (May 7th), the New York City Police Department cleared out the last group of “New York Fashion Institute” (FIT) students protesting against Israel in downtown Manhattan and arrested a leader of the pro-Hamas radical organization “People’s Forum” (TPF).
According to ABC News, following the clearance of anti-Israel protest camps at Columbia University, New York University, City College, and other universities in the past week, the NYPD moved to disperse the remaining pro-Palestinian camp at FIT on Tuesday night, leading to the arrest of nearly 50 individuals, including the 35-year-old executive director of the pro-Hamas group “People’s Forum,” Manolo De Los Santos.
The organization posted footage on X platform showing Santos being arrested while shouting slogans like “Free Palestine” before being handcuffed by the police. Last week, he had incited Columbia University students to emulate the violent protests of the summer of 2020, which later led to the occupation of Columbia’s Hamilton Hall by the students.
Santos, hailing from the “socialist paradise” of Cuba, is known for inciting street protests. Following Hamas’ attack on Israeli civilians on October 7 last year, he made several anti-Israel remarks, praising Hamas’ attacks as “brave” and suggesting erasing Israel “from history.” Santos has been arrested multiple times during anti-Israel demonstrations in New York, with this recent arrest being the latest.
Due to the protests, Columbia University has canceled its campus-wide graduation ceremony. On Wednesday, the university for the first time in over a week allowed some students to enter the Morningside Heights campus.
Mayor Adams praised the work of the NYPD, saying, “The work of the New York City Police Department is outstanding in this challenging situation.”