Boston police cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment at Emerson College on April 25, making 108 arrests.
The city ordinance used to clear the encampment was approved in October 2023 to address homeless tent encampments.
The encampment was set up in response to protests at Columbia University.
Three officers suffered injuries during the arrests, but no protesters were reported injured.
In the early hours of Thursday, April 25, Boston police moved in to clear a pro-Palestinian encampment at Emerson College. The encampment, located in Boylston Place alley near the Massachusetts Transportation Building, had been set up by students as a show of solidarity with protesters who were arrested at Columbia University in New York earlier that week. According to reports, an announcement was made at 1 a.m. stating that anyone remaining in the alley would be arrested.
Three days after the encampment was established, Boston police arrived and began clearing tents while taking demonstrators into custody. A total of 108 arrests were made, according to Boston Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Detective John Boyle. Four officers suffered injuries during the arrests, but no protesters were reported injured.
The city ordinance that gave police the authority to clear tent encampments from city streets and sidewalks was approved in October 2023 as part of an effort to address homeless tent encampments.
An announcement was made at 1 a.m. stating that anyone in the alley would be arrested.
Boston police cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment at Emerson College.
Accuracy
More than 100 protesters were arrested at Emerson College on May X, 2023.
Four police officers were injured during the clearing of the encampment.
Deception
(50%)
The article provides a detailed account of the events that transpired during the clearing of the pro-Palestinian encampment at Emerson College. While it does not directly quote any sources or studies to support its claims, it does report on official statements made by Boston Police and Emerson College. The author, Matt Reed, seems to be primarily reporting on the events as they occurred without adding his own opinions or interpretations. However, there are some instances of selective reporting where certain details that support the narrative of protesters being uncooperative are highlighted (e.g., one student getting shoved and resisting arrest). This creates a somewhat misleading picture of the events. Additionally, the article does not disclose any sources or studies that were consulted for this report.
The encampment in Boylston Place Alley is one of several set up by students at Massachusetts colleges to show solidarity with the pro-Palestinian protesters who were arrested at Columbia University in New York earlier this week.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the arrests as 'clashes' and the clearing of the encampment as 'disgusting' and 'horrifying'. This is an appeal to emotion and can be considered a fallacy of pathos.
>100 people were arrested and four police officers were injured early Thursday when protesters clashed with Boston police as a pro-Palestinian encampment at Emerson College was cleared.
Being there and seeing the people standing around, getting dragged to the ground, getting arrested, it was horrifying. It was absolutely disgusting. I am still shaking from the experience.
Bias
(95%)
The author does not demonstrate any clear bias in the article. However, there are a few instances where the language used could be perceived as having a slight pro-protester slant. For example, the author describes the protesters as 'peaceful' and 'compliant' when they were being arrested, and uses phrases like 'absolutely disgusting' and 'horrifying' to describe their treatment by the police. However, these instances do not rise to the level of bias that would significantly impact the overall fairness of the article. Therefore, a score of 95 is appropriate.
Emerson College recognizes and respects the civic activism and passion that sparked the protest in Boylston Place Alley in support of Palestine[
]people live here[
We don’t want to arrest anybody. We support your right to protest. I’m indifferent. I don’t have a side either way.[
Emerson students set up camp in Boylston Place alley on Monday.
Three police officers suffered minor injuries, while a fourth officer had more serious injuries. No protesters were injured.
City ordinance gives police the ability to clear tent encampments from city streets and sidewalks, approved in October 2023 as part of an effort to address homeless tent encampments.
Accuracy
Demonstrations have spread across the country including Columbia University, Yale University, New York University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Southern California, California State Polytechnic University Humboldt, the University of California Berkeley, Ohio State University, Michigan and Minnesota.
Harvard attempted to prevent demonstrations by closing gates and requiring IDs but tents went up in Harvard Yard on Wednesday.
