Protesters from the City University of New York (CUNY) Gaza Solidarity Encampment are calling for the dismissal of what they describe as “unjust” charges against eight of their members. The group, known as the CUNY 28, made this demand during a press conference outside Manhattan criminal court on Thursday, where the eight protesters pled not guilty to a range of charges. The CUNY 28 were among those arrested in a New York Police Department (NYPD) raid on their Gaza solidarity encampment on April 30.

The CUNY 28 issued a statement denouncing their treatment and declaring their resistance in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. According to the group, while charges against many others arrested during protests have been dropped, eight members are still facing serious accusations, including causing millions of dollars in damages. The protesters argue that they are challenging an unjust system that silences dissent, accusing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, CUNY, and the NYPD of targeting them with heavy charges to suppress their activism.

The protesters expressed that their actions were not just in support of a free Palestine but also part of a broader fight for liberation and justice worldwide. They criticized the CUNY administration for remaining silent on Israel’s actions in Gaza and accused the university of repressing support for Palestinians. Their statement emphasized that the occupation of buildings during protests serves to reclaim space and disrupt normal operations to draw attention to injustices.

The Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network has expressed full support for the CUNY 28, urging authorities to drop the charges, stating that resisting genocide is not a crime but a duty. The protests at CUNY are part of a larger movement that began at Columbia University on April 17 and has since spread to other campuses across the U.S., all in response to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

The protesters also pointed out the disparities in the treatment of CUNY activists compared to others involved in pro-Palestine demonstrations, with the CUNY 28 facing harsher charges and longer custody times. They condemned attempts by authorities to divide protesters and vowed to continue their resistance despite the state’s attempts to intimidate them into silence.