Skip to Main Content
New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

The NYPD’s war against racial justice protesters

The NYPD’s war against racial justice protesters

According to recently leaked documents, the New York City Police Department’s anti-terror unit trained officers to disregard the constitutional rights of demonstrators during last summer’s protests for racial justice. This unit must be disbanded and officers involved held accountable for these abuses.
Asha Ramachandran, Deputy Opinion Editor April 12, 2021

Beaten with batons, assaulted with pepper spray, shoved to the ground and unlawfully arrested — these are only a few examples of the force inflicted by the New York Police Department...

People gather at rallies in New York City this weekend to bring awareness to anti-Asian violence. (Photo by Suhail Gharaibeh)

Rallies in New York City call attention to anti-Asian violence

In recent rallies, New Yorkers have called for action and solidarity in response to anti-Asian hate crimes.
Roshni Raj and Suhail Gharaibeh March 22, 2021

Multiple rallies in New York City this weekend brought awareness to anti-Asian violence, which spiked in tandem with the COVID-19 pandemic last spring and has surged again...

Police and Protesters Shut Down Grand Central Station

Police and Protesters Shut Down Grand Central Station

NYPD officers stood by while NYC Shut it Down rallied to protest the murder of Daniel Prude and the involvement of police in mental and public health issues.
Nick Mead, Deputy News Editor September 15, 2020

Activists affiliated with the group NYC Shut It Down gathered at Grand Central Terminal on Monday evening, Sept. 14, to protest the death of Daniel Prude, who was killed by Rochester...

Washington Square Park, the day after the second consecutive midnight rave. The continual partying, attended by an unknown mix of students and outside community members, raises questions about the long term chances of NYU staying open. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

Hundreds Gather at Washington Square Park — Again

Washington Square Park saw yet another weekend of people flouting safety guidelines, as fears of spreading COVID-19 surge.
Trace Miller and Aarushi Sharma September 13, 2020

Washington Square Park was the sight of gatherings again, on both Friday and Saturday nights, Sept. 11 and 12. Shaman, an organizer with America’s Peaceful Resolution and Refuse...

For years, Washington Square Park has acted as a hub for social gatherings. In light of social distancing precautions, the midnight "rave" earlier last weekend raised multiple concerns on students ignoring guidelines. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

Rave at Washington Square Park Sparks Outrage and Confusion at NYU

Students, New York City residents, and university officials are angered by a rave that was held in the park Saturday night largely consisting of young people.
Trace Miller, News Editor September 7, 2020

Hundreds gathered together at Washington Square Park partying to electronic dance music on Saturday night, Sept. 5. Some wore masks, others did not; a few appeared to be smoking...

People gathered in Union Square in 2015 for one of the many rallies for Black Lives Matter that occurred regularly throughout the year. Tisch Professors Andromache Chalfant and Donyale Werle recently resigned in protest tied to the Black Lives Matter movement, citing a lack of diversity within their department. (Photo by Christian Forte)

Tisch Professors Resign in Protest Over Lack of BIPOC Representation

Andromache Chalfant and Donyale Werle, professors in the Tisch Graduate Department of Design for Stage & Film, recently resigned in response to unmet demands from students and alumni for a more diverse faculty.
Vanessa Handy, Social Media Editor August 10, 2020

As the nation continues to reflect on demonstrations with the Black Lives Matter movement, many individuals are reflecting on their personal behaviors and role as activists and...

Yes, Stay-at-Home Orders Are Legal and Necessary

Yes, Stay-at-Home Orders Are Legal and Necessary

Last week, we witnessed an eruption of protests against multiple government’s shelter-in-place orders, across multiple states, under the guise of protecting personal liberties, but these protestors have failed to truly grasp what civil liberties actually are.
Emily Dai, Deputy Opinion Editor April 20, 2020

The nation witnessed a collision between public health and political struggles last week, as thousands of people exploded into open protest on the streets of Michigan’s capital....

An activist group named Extinction Rebellion covered their mouths with black duct-tape and protested outside City Hall Monday morning. They handed out flyers urging climate change action, holding up notebooks with letters that make up “Decarbonize, Democratize, Decolonize.” (Photo by Andrew Califf)

Activists Demand Climate Change Education Reform With Duct-Taped Mouths

Activist group Extinction Rebellion duct-taped their mouths and handed out flyers outside City Hall on Monday morning to urge climate change education.
Andrew Califf, Contributing Writer March 9, 2020

It was up to the discretion of those walking past City Hall on Monday morning to accept or refuse flyers from Extinction Rebellion — a group committed to educating people about...

Protestors march down 5th Avenue in response to the State of the Union and the Senate Acquittal of President Trump. (Staff photo by Jake Capriotti)

Senate Acquittal of President Trump Spurs Protest

New Yorkers with the group Rise and Resist came together in Columbus Circle on Wednesday to protest the US Senate acquitting President Donald Trump of impeachment nearly 90 minutes after the vote came in.
Nick Mead, Contributing Writer February 6, 2020

Protestors gathered in Columbus Circle on Wednesday evening to protest the acquittal of President Donald Trump by the Senate on two articles of impeachment.  During the Senate...

(Illustration by Sophia Di Iorio)

The Olympics’ Ban of Protests Is Hypocritical and Unfair

The International Olympics Committee is asking to remain a politically neutral stage. Aside from infringing upon the free speech rights of its competing athletes, the move also ignores the political history of the competition.
Bela Kirpalani, Editor-at-Large January 27, 2020

Earlier this month, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) announced it would institute a ban on protesting ahead of this summer’s competition in Tokyo. The IOC said it would...

Protestors held signs and chanted in support of Hong Kong, demanding an end to police brutality. (Photo by Ishaan Parmar)

Pro-Hong Kong, Pro-China Protesters Clash Ahead of NYU Law Human Rights Panel

Pro-China protesters and pro-Hong Kong counterprotesters gathered on Monday night outside of an NYU Law panel on human rights in Hong Kong.
Ishaan Parmar and Alexandria Johnson November 18, 2019

Protesters who say pro-democracy efforts by Hong Kong residents are too violent gathered outside NYU School of Law's D'Agostino Hall on Monday night, shouting and chanting for...

The NYPD’s Subway Occupation Must End

The NYPD’s Subway Occupation Must End

After several instances of police abuse in New York City subway stations, an awareness of the NYPD’s campaign against those most in need is growing — this violent force must be confronted.
Asha Ramachandran, Contributing Writer November 11, 2019

A young black man, Adrian Napier, was sitting alone on the subway at the Franklin Avenue station in Brooklyn on Oct. 25. A gang of police officers assembled outside of the train,...