Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Rally or protest
Recognized student group event
Other student-organized event
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
University investigation issuing in sanctions
Faculty sanctioned
Student sanctioned
Staff Sanctioned
Rally or Protests
University administration invoked formal speech code in response
University administration changed university policy as a consequence
Campus police
Other Law Enforcement
State Campus Free Speech Act
Title IX or other federal statute
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Was Speech Code incident
Summary
On April 22, 2024, New York University (NYU) called the New York Police Department to clear a pro-Palestinian encampment, resulting in the arrest of more than 100 protesters, including students and faculty members. NYU President Linda Mills issued a statement on May 1, 2024, addressing the arrests and stating that the university had acted after protesters refused to comply with requests to leave the encampment. On May 3, 2024, NYU announced that students arrested during the encampment protest would face disciplinary proceedings. Additional disciplinary actions followed on May 12, 2024, when students involved in a protest were notified that they could face suspension for alleged violations of university conduct policies, and on May 14, 2024, when some students arrested during protests were required to complete educational assignments as part of the disciplinary process.
On August 26, 2024, NYU revised its student conduct policies, including changes governing demonstrations and campus activities. On November 22, 2024, students held a protest involving a temporary wall installation addressing the war in Gaza and university investments. A December 12, 2024, demonstration involved student demands that university administrators disclose investment information and take action related to the university’s financial ties. NYU subsequently initiated disciplinary proceedings against participating students, and on January 23, 2025, the university suspended students involved in the December demonstration, with sanctions including suspensions and other disciplinary measures under the university’s conduct process.
The university’s policies regarding student expression continued to be addressed through graduation-related policies and disputes. On April 28, 2025, NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science announced restrictions on decorated graduation attire, limiting students’ ability to display certain messages and symbols during commencement-related events. In May 2025, NYU withheld the diploma of Gallatin student Logan Rozos after he delivered a commencement speech criticizing U.S. support for Israel and discussing the war in Gaza, while allowing him to participate in graduation ceremonies. The decision followed disputes over the university’s response to political speech during commencement. On March 5, 2026, NYU announced that student commencement speeches would no longer be delivered live during graduation ceremonies and would instead be prerecorded. The university stated that the change was intended to keep commencement remarks focused on celebrating graduates.
In April 2026, Faculty for Palestine announced a tribunal examining NYU’s response to Gaza-related activism, including disciplinary actions involving students and faculty. On April 22, 2026, NYU student organizers held the “Free Speech and Justice for Palestine Tribunal,” which addressed the university’s handling of protest activity, student discipline proceedings, and restrictions affecting Palestine-related speech.
