{"id":1144,"date":"2025-04-15T12:01:52","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T12:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/entouragecover.com\/?p=1144"},"modified":"2025-04-16T22:49:40","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T22:49:40","slug":"dozens-protest-nyu-response-to-college-republicans-anti-immigration-panel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/entouragecover.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/15\/dozens-protest-nyu-response-to-college-republicans-anti-immigration-panel\/","title":{"rendered":"Dozens protest NYU response to College Republicans\u2019 anti-immigration panel"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Over 20 people rallied in Washington Square Park on Monday to demand that the university publicly condemn the NYU College Republicans for organizing an on-campus panel featuring three far-right influencers, one of whom requested \u201carmed security\u201d at the event.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rally, held by NYU\u2019s chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, began with demonstrators chanting \u201cWe don\u2019t want no racist here\u201d and \u201cDown with deportation\u201d while holding a sign that read \u201cNO COMPLIANCE WITH TRUMP\u2019S VIOLENCE\u201d in Garibaldi Plaza. The group then marched around the park, turned on Mercer Street to march past the Paulson Center and concluded the protest outside the Kimmel Center for University Life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In an interview with WSN, SDS member Caleb Levy said the university\u2019s statement announcing that the panel was cancelled due to \u201cthreatening developments\u201d failed to hold the College Republicans accountable. Levy said that in order to better protect its international students and faculty, NYU should specifically address the club\u2019s invitation to speakers who openly champion white supremacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here to make clear that the students do not stand by this and that the students are not just going to be quiet over this,\u201d Levy said. \u201cIn the event that NYU continues to not acknowledge us, we’re going to continue to be active, because at the end of the day, the administration is supposed to keep us safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Two members of the College Republicans intervened in the first part of the rally by recording participants and conducting a mock TV interview about the demonstration. SDS members and members of the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, who joined students at the rally, blocked the cameras with a keffiyeh and an umbrella. Police officers eventually interjected after SDS members sought assistance, and the College Republicans dispersed when demonstrators began marching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The panel, slated for last Thursday, was titled \u201cImmigrant Invasion\u201d and subheaded \u201cYou don\u2019t have to go home, but you can\u2019t stay here.\u201d Shortly after it was announced, SDS circulated a petition demanding that NYU administrators axe the \u201cwhite supremacist, xenophobic\u201d event. Less than 24 hours later, the university announced the panel\u2019s cancellation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always upsetting when people feel like they can be hateful in public,\u201d Levy said. \u201cEspecially in a college community where so many of our community members who are marginalized might be put at risk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amilcar Javier \u2014 alumni adviser of NYU\u2019s chapter of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Incorporated, who spoke at the rally \u2014 said that the College Republicans\u2019 recent action reminded him of when the organization held a \u201c<\/span>Find the Illegal Immigrant<\/span><\/a>\u201d game in 2007. At the game, the College Republicans issued monetary awards to participants who found members holding \u201cillegal immigrant\u201d signs while hiding in Washington Square Park.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Amilcar Javier of La Unidad Latina speaks in Garibaldi Plaza. (Alex Woodworth for WSN)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The game immediately drew <\/span>hundreds of protesters<\/span><\/a> who called it racist and insensitive. Javier said he was glad that both the game and last week\u2019s panel saw widespread dissent from the NYU community.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s terrifying,\u201d Javier said. \u201cBut there were activists who created a safe space for students of color in contrast to the College Republicans. I find that inspiring knowing that even so many years later there are so many students who are willing to fight back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After the immigration panel was canceled, featured guests said they would hold the conversation in a new venue the next day. In an Instagram post, panelist Lucian Wintrich called the College Republicans president a \u201c<\/span>spineless<\/span><\/a>\u201d person who was \u201cdisplaying disgraceful weakness under mild pressure.\u201d Elijah Schaffer, another one of the panelists, also <\/span>posted a picture<\/span><\/a> of him standing outside of the NYU Bookstore and said he will continue to seek legal action against NYU\u2019s publicized statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

NYU did not address the prospect of a rescheduled event. Its cancellation came the day after President Linda Mills revealed in an email that some community members had been affected by national efforts to revoke student visas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s not super uncommon for NYU admin to try to delay and ignore,\u201d CAS student and SDS member Jude Finkelberg told WSN. \u201cIt’s very hypocritical but very in-line with past NYU administrative actions, so we’re just going to continue to pressure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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