SGA Releases Statement Concerning National Protests and Police Violence
The statement has caused anger among some NYU students for its initial call for an increased police presence at NYU.
In response to the nationwide protests following George Floyd’s murder, SGA released a statement June 2 updating the NYU community on their stance on police violence against the Black community as well as police presence on campus. An earlier version of the statement, shared the previous day, angered students, as it appeared that SGA had asked the administration for an increased police presence on campus.
As protests continue to sweep the nation, SGA condemned the violence by police and reiterated support with the Black Lives Matter movement, including militarization of police and their increasing aggression towards protesters.
“The amount of innocent Black lives lost to police violence and institutionalized racism is almost too great to quantify,” the statement read. “As a body, we do not only stand in solidarity with the visible murder of Black individuals — we also stand in solidarity with the countless deaths of Black people at the hands of police that have gone unnoticed throughout history.”
The statement also brought attention to the demands and comments students shared regarding the protests and violence as it relates to the NYU community. It encouraged students to continue filling out the Survey for Demands and Change to NYU. SGA says the responses will be regularly shared with the university administration.
“The Executive Committee has made its goal to be opening all platforms to Black student voices as they relate to the recent protests across the United States and amplifying the mission of Black Lives Matter,” the statement read.
The Executive Committee faced backlash after the original version of the statement called for an increase in police presence on campus, which angered students.
“New York University has and will increase its Public Safety Liaison Program that exists between members of NYU Public Safety and the NYPD,” it read. “It is the recommendation of the Student Government Assembly Executive Committee that an increased student presence in the liaison program be secured immediately, as this program is what allows NYPD to be familiarized with our campus and community guidelines.”
Following the initial release of the statement, several students took to Twitter to express their outrage and discontent with the situation.
“The Executive Committee of the [Student Government Assembly], led by Raj Kittusamy, has completely failed us,” one student wrote.
“In the wake of police terrorism against Black communities, Raj Kittusamy has used his access to President Hamilton to call for NYU to build upon its already existing relationships with NYPD, as opposed to severing all ties completely.” The user also shared an email template calling for Kittusamy’s resignation.
SGA updated their original document, adding a sentence claiming that expanding NYU’s Public Safety Liasion Program with the NYPD “is something the SGA does not condone at all, and will continue to actively oppose.”
In a tweet with the updated version of the document, SGA issued an apology for their “word choice” and reiterated that all NYU ties with the NYPD be cut.
A change.org petition with over 1,800 signatures at the time of writing has catalyzed the demand.
In New York City, the NYPD has been caught on camera inciting violence at otherwise peaceful protests and blaming its victims. “The police have been a catalyst for stoking violence in a city that many college students and alumni call their home,” the petition reads. “We urge NYU to follow the lead of the University of Minnesota and sever ties with the NYPD.”
The university has released a statement concerning the protests, but has not acknowledged the SGA statement, its demands, nor the petition.
As of publication, the Student Government Assembly has not responded to a request for comment.
