Image via the Boston Massacre Historical Society

The New School is (or was) at it again!  We told you last December of their first attempt at a building takeover and in February of their threats to shut down the entire university, largely over a desire to see current president (and former Nebraska senator) Bob Kerrey resign. Yesterday, dissent (and, apparently, violence) again reared its head at the University. 

In the morning, New School students stormed a 5th Avenue university building and chained themselves inside.  In response, at least 20 NYPD officers appeared in riot gear.  City Room has videos of police behaving in ways that may make you quite uncomfortable.  Those cans they’re shaking?  Yeah, that’s pepper spray, even though police spokesman Paul Browne had earlier claimed that it was “untrue that pepper spray or mace was used in effectuating the arrests.” 

These questionably-rigorous arrests sparked a protest-con-march-on-Kerrey’s-house later last night, which, according to the Times, also met with police opposition.  The NYPD and the New School administration have denied any misconduct, but the New York Civil Liberties Union is, naturally, up in arms.  NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman is quoted in the Times calling the police’s behavior “a violation of civil rights plain and simple.”