Police in riot gear swarmed a New School University building this morning, arresting 22 students and ending an occupation after just five hours.
Protesters dressed in hooded sweatshirts with scarves covering their faces had taken over the building, at 65 Fifth Avenue, at 6 a.m., hoisting an anarchist flag from the roof and draping across the door a banner reading, “New School University is now occupied.”
It was the second protest in five months calling for the resignation of President Bob Kerrey.
Witnesses said more than 30 cops, wearing helmets and some carrying shields, stormed the school shortly after 11 a.m. They arrested 15 men and four women.
Another three were arrested outside. Charges are pending, cops said.
Protesters immediately accused cops of using force and tear gas to take back the school — but police denied using any excessive force.
“It took the pigs and New School authorities pepper spray, tear gas and beating up some bystanders outside,” ranted a blogger who claimed to represent the protesters.
The blog then called for supporters to rally outside NYPD’s 6th Precinct, where the occupiers were being held.
“No force was used,” said a police spokesman. “Everything was peaceful.”
The same building had been occupied for 30 hours in December by a group calling themselves “New School in Exile.” It claimed to be protesting Kerrey’s management of the school.
Students announced they would “shut down the university” if Kerrey did not resign by April 1.
Kerrey told the school’s Free Press newspaper, “I cannot consider them students at this point.”
Cops closed Fifth Avenue, between 12th and 14th Streets, to pedestrian traffic for the duration of yesterday’s protest.