Dartmouth Protest Turns Physical as Pro-Hamas Activists Clash With Campus Officials

A student protest at Dartmouth College escalated on Wednesday after a group calling itself the “New Deal Coalition” (NDC) took over a lobby in Parkhurst Hall — only to vacate the space at closing time, according to reports by The Algemeiner and The Dartmouth, the school’s official newspaper.

The protest, aimed at pushing Dartmouth to divest from companies tied to Israel’s defense industry, turned chaotic before day’s end. Two individuals — a member of the university president’s staff and a campus security officer — were reportedly injured during the incident. College administrators later confirmed that the demonstration included participants who were not affiliated with the school.

In a statement cited by The Dartmouth, Deans Anne Hudak and Eric Ramsey condemned the disruption and promised disciplinary action: “There cannot and will not be any tolerance for the type of escalation we saw on our campus today.”

Throughout the demonstration, protestors chanted “Free Palestine,” echoing rhetoric that has, in other cases, accompanied violent incidents — including one cited by The Algemeiner, where the same phrase was reportedly shouted by a suspect who murdered two Israeli diplomats in Washington, D.C.

The next day, the New Deal Coalition defended its actions, claiming the protest was a justified response to Dartmouth’s rejection of a student-led divestment proposal — a plan inspired by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The group also expressed outrage over Dartmouth’s recent announcement of the Davidson Institute for Global Security, which they claim is linked to Israeli interests.

In a statement reviewed by The Algemeiner, the group accused Dartmouth of complicity in what it described as “U.S.-backed Israeli genocide,” and closed with a chilling line: “There is only one solution! Intifada! Revolution!”

Last week, the school’s Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility (ACIR) unanimously rejected the BDS-aligned proposal, saying it failed to meet the college’s standards for ethical investment policy. According to The Algemeiner, the ACIR report emphasized that the proposal lacked balance, did not reflect consensus on campus, and could worsen divisions rather than foster dialogue.

The committee’s review also noted that while the proposal partially demonstrated precedent for divestment on moral grounds, it failed to account for opposing perspectives and the broader impact such a move might have on the campus environment.

Dartmouth’s NDC protest is one of many such actions erupting across U.S. campuses as the academic year concludes. At Yale University, demonstrators recently launched a hunger strike after administrators refused to meet their demands for divestment from Israel-related holdings. According to the Yale Daily News, the protest ended after just ten days due to health concerns.

Meanwhile, New York’s Brooklyn College saw a major confrontation as pro-Hamas activists clashed with NYPD officers attempting to dismantle an illegal encampment. Video captured by FreedomNews.TV showed violent scuffles, with students resisting arrest and reportedly trying to block access to the Tanger Hillel House — a Jewish student center.

In a statement to The Algemeiner, Tanger Hillel condemned the incident, noting disturbing chants like “We don’t want no Zionists here” and banners featuring inverted red triangles — a symbol often interpreted as incitement to violence. The organization called the targeting of Hillel “an antisemitic act of aggression” that crossed the line from protest into harassment.

From Hanover to New York, the rise in radical campus activism is placing schools under increasing pressure to draw the line between free speech and hate-fueled intimidation. As The Algemeiner continues to report, the outcomes may determine not just campus policies — but the safety and cohesion of entire academic communities.