Brief Altercation Reported Following Rally at Walnut Park

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

We write to update you on an incident that occurred late this afternoon following a pro-Palestine “Community Support Rally” held in Walnut Park, a city park adjacent to Syracuse University. Syracuse Police were aware of the planned rally and had a police presence at the park.

The rally, composed of approximately 50 people, most of whom were not students, was met with a counterprotest, including verbal exchanges but no physical altercation. Subsequently, rally participants marched to the campus Quad where they circled the western section of the Quad once and then dispersed. When some of the participants left campus and returned to Walnut Park, it has been reported that an individual not affiliated with the University gestured the Nazi salute toward a group of students. A brief verbal altercation ensued; it is reported that the non-affiliate then punched a student. The student declined medical attention and did not want to pursue charges.

Syracuse Police, as the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over this matter, is speaking to witnesses to get a better understanding of what transpired and reviewing all available security camera and witness cell phone video footage. If you witnessed or have any information regarding this incident, we ask that you immediately contact the Department of Public Safety or Syracuse Police. You can also share your eyewitness account anonymously through the Orange Safe App. To ensure the safety of our community, there will be an increased law enforcement presence on and around campus in the coming days.

Sincerely,

Allen W. Groves
Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience Officer

Craig Stone
Associate Vice President and Chief, Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services