Several individuals were detained by police at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Thursday as part of an ongoing protest movement related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The demonstrators had blocked a parking garage on campus, leading to tensions and standoffs with authorities.
Similar protests have been occurring on campuses across the United States and Europe, with varying responses from college administrations. In Boston, known for its strong ties to higher education, students have established encampments at multiple institutions, including MIT, Northeastern University, and Harvard University.
At MIT, protesters have been urging administrators to terminate all research contracts with Israel’s Ministry of Defense, citing an estimated $11 million in funding since 2015. The situation escalated on Thursday when protesters obstructed the entrance to a campus parking garage and spilled onto a nearby street.
Authorities intervened approximately two hours later, dispersing the crowd and reopening the garage by 5 p.m. A small number of individuals were detained during the incident, with MIT police making fewer than 10 arrests. The campus, including the Stata Garage and Vassar Street, has since returned to normalcy.
One of the protest leaders, an MIT student named Hannah Didehbani, expressed that the garage blockade was part of a broader campaign to highlight what she perceives as MIT’s involvement with the Israeli military. Despite facing suspension and eviction notices from the school, Didehbani emphasized the resilience of the student movement in advocating for change.
The pro-Palestinian protest movement originated nearly three weeks ago at Columbia University in New York City and has since gained momentum, resulting in over 2,500 arrests nationwide.
