NEW ORLEANS — An off-campus rally got out of control for Tulane students protesting the Israel-Hamas war on Thursday afternoon. Three students were assaulted and two arrests have been made.
Several demonstrators and counter-demonstrators confronted each other and a fight broke out, according to a statement the university released on Facebook.
The rally took place on the sidewalk along Freret Street.
NOPD and Tulane University's Police Department, TUPD responded to the incident. The university said the students assaulted have minor injuries.
Tulane's President, Michael A. Fitts, issued a statement on the university's website stating that the rally was not "approved or sanctioned by Tulane and that "it was staged on public property and attended by many who were not affiliated with our university."
The statement also said that TUPD made an arrest on Wednesday night for vandalizing a building near the campus.
Fitts said all students will be held accountable to the university's Code of Student Conduct.
"To be clear: We condemn and are outraged by today’s violence and the hateful language and rhetoric we heard. It is counter to everything we stand for at Tulane," Fitts said in the statement.
School officials said they are working to increase security and assist students. They said the campus has been secured and students are safe.
The incident is under investigation and the university will share more information once it becomes available.
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