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Westchester County Offers Anti-Israel Protesters at SUNY Purchase a Choice: Crime Prevention Course or Jail Time
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Westchester County prosecutors are offering a unique resolution for the 68 anti-Israel protesters arrested at a campus demonstration at SUNY Purchase, as was reported on Wednesday by the New York Post. Instead of facing jail time, nearly all the arrested individuals can enroll in a crime prevention course, according to the Westchester District Attorney’s office.
On May 2, a demonstration at the state university led to the arrest of 68 protesters by university police. The protest, driven by a pro-Hamas fervor for the continuation of terror targeting Israel and the West, escalated when participants, including both students and faculty, refused to disperse, according to the Post report. Most of those arrested faced charges of trespassing. The demonstration’s disruption and the subsequent police response sparked controversy and debates about appropriate conduct and free speech on campus.
Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah announced that nearly all of the protesters would have the option to participate in a three-hour “Fresh Start” course instead of facing prosecution and potential jail time, as per the information provided in the Post report. This decision is part of a plea deal aimed at keeping first-time offenders out of the county lockup.
“After evaluating the facts and circumstances, the WCDAO is offering our pre-arraignment diversionary program to eligible individuals, as we routinely do when first-time defendants face trespass violations,” a spokesperson for Rocah stated, the Post report said.
The “Fresh Start” program, established by Rocah in 2021, serves as an alternative to traditional prosecution. It is designed to provide first-time offenders with education and resources to prevent future legal issues. The report in the Post indicated that the course emphasizes understanding the consequences of illegal activities and encourages positive community involvement.
The decision to offer the “Fresh Start” program comes amid ongoing tensions between pro-Hamas activists and university administration. The arrests at SUNY Purchase have intensified discussions about the balance between campus security and the right to protest. Indicated in the Post report was that the student group involved in the demonstration has accused the police of overreacting, leading to strained negotiations between protesters and school administrators.
The university police’s decision to break up the protest and arrest participants was met with mixed reactions. The Post report said that supporters of the police action argue that it was necessary to maintain order and ensure the safety of all campus members. Critics, however, believe the police response was disproportionate and stifled free expression.
Moving Forward
Student protester Kaelin Martin expressed outrage over the handling of the May 2 protest at SUNY Purchase. “It was completely uncalled for,” Martin told lohud.com. “We actually began sitting in a circle quietly, even respecting the quiet hours that our school implements. It’s completely ridiculous and they couldn’t have handled it worse.”
The SUNY Purchase protest is part of a larger wave of anti-Israel demonstrations occurring on college campuses across the United States. These protests are often organized by student groups advocating for Hamas terrorism while criticizing Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict.
On May 7, police cleared an anti-Israel encampment at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). This action followed a similar incident at Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus in April, where the NYPD arrested more than 100 protesters, according to the Post report. Of those arrested at Columbia, 44 had broken into Hamilton Hall and barricaded themselves in the historic building, prompting a strong police response.
Days later, police also dismantled a tent encampment at New York University (NYU) and the New School, resulting in the arrest of over a dozen demonstrators, as noted in the Post report.
Moreover, the national trend of anti-Israel protests reflects broader geopolitical tensions and the increasing involvement of young people in movements that espouse virulent anti-Semitism.
