Eight anti-Israel protesters who caused millions of dollars worth of damages during a violent demonstration at City College’s campus in Upper Manhattan pleaded not guilty to an array of charges on Thursday — including two who attacked campus public safety officers.
They are charged with burglary in the third degree and other related charges after following a clash between protesters and police who moved in to clear out an “intifada” encampment at the City College of New York this spring.
All eight defendants, most of whom appeared in court with face masks and keffiyeh scarves, pleaded not guilty to the charges as they were arraigned together in Manhattan criminal court.
The defendants — Nora Fayad, Amelia Fuller, Miranda Levine, Astrid Terrazas, Luis Alberto Cadena, Rudy Martinez, Jonathan Rampagoa and Jacob Gabriel — and their attorneys declined to comment.
Martinez, who is a staff member at Guttman College, is affiliated with CUNY.
Two of the demonstrators, Rampagoa and Gabriel, are additionally charged with assault for allegedly throwing a bicycle and computer keyboard at CCNY public safety officers.
“Everyone returning to campus this fall deserves to be and feel safe. Today’s felony indictments make clear that we will not hesitate to prosecute those who destroy property or commit violence at any protest when we have the appropriate facts and evidence,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
Bragg said his office has been coordinating with the NYPD and local colleges ahead of additional student demonstrations anticipated this school year and “will continue to pursue cases that cross the line from peaceful, legal protest into illegal activity.”
The eight protesters were arrested when police descended on the Harlem campus on April 30 after students and other outside agitators erected a tent city protesting Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
During the raucous clash with cops, one protester hurled a flare that torched the roof of the City University of New York school’s administration building causing $350,000 worth of damage, CUNY Chief Operating Officer Hector Batista testified before the City Council in May.
Vandals caused another $250,000 in damage by breaking windows, chairs and other furniture in buildings and another $600,000 in damages from spray-painted video surveillance cameras to avoid detection, Batista said.
With additional security measures the school was forced to put in place, “we’re upwards of $3 million in spending,” Battista said.
Each of the defendants is charged with one count of third degree burglary and one count of tampering with physical evidence, both felonies, and misdemeanors charges for criminal mischief, criminal trespassing and four counts of possession of burglar’s tools.
