On April 10, New School students occupied the entire Graduate Faculty building at 65 5th Ave. demanding the resignation of university president and Vietnam-era war-criminal Bob Kerrey. Police arrived at the occupation upon the request of the New School administration and quickly went on the offensive. Outside the Graduate Faculty building, students who had gathered to show their support of the occupation were attacked by baton-wielding cops. Inside, police attacked the student occupiers with mace or tear gas and trapped them inside, giving them no escape from the toxic fumes, finally arresting nearly two dozen students in total. These brutal attacks must be stopped! The charges must be dropped!
The New School administration of Bob Kerrey and the board which unanimously supports him, attempted to use violence to bust a previous occupation in December. But that time, a demonstration of hundreds on 5th Ave. in support of the occupation gave the Administration and police second thoughts about attacking.
The violent approach of the New School administration and the cops this time around follows a similar crackdown on a student occupation at New York University in February. University administrations are now clearly trying to intimidate students from future protests.
Protests must be called to demand dropping the charges and suspensions of the arrested students and an end to the police attacks. These demonstrations would have the potential to broaden support for the student struggle, including the fight against planned tuition hikes.
Student dissatisfaction is also rising at CUNY, where students have been fighting against Governor Paterson’s budget cuts, tuition hikes, and threatened layoffs. CUNY students have built several demonstrations in a continuing campaign of protest. New School students should mobilize at every opportunity to support these demonstrations.
Student anger is breaking at New School, NYU, and various CUNY campuses. This mood must be linked to common demands and united actions to win them. Mass protests are the answer to Kerrey’s repression and Paterson’s attacks on workers and CUNY students!