May 17, 2025
Four independent journalists are taking legal action against Brooklyn College and the City University of New York (CUNY) after being denied access to the campus during a pro-Palestinian student demonstration on May 8th. The reporters argue that the college's decision to bar them from entering violated their First Amendment right to freedom of the press, particularly as a public institution.

Press Credentials Not Enough

According to a notice of intention to file a claim, attorney Wylie Stecklow, representing Neil Constatine, Jon Farina, Michael Nigro, and Madison Stewart, stated that his clients were stopped by public safety officers despite presenting valid city-issued press passes.

Stecklow emphasized the distinction between Brooklyn College and private institutions like Columbia University, highlighting that as part of the public CUNY system, Brooklyn College has a "higher duty to uphold the First Amendment."

"As an arm of the state of New York, they owe all the rights and privileges guaranteed by both the U.S. Constitution and the New York State constitution," Stecklow asserted. He further warned about the dangerous precedent set by allowing government entities to control media access to newsworthy events, stating, "If we allow government actors to decide when the press is allowed in newsworthy events, then there is no freedom of the press."

Neither Brooklyn College nor CUNY immediately responded to requests for comment on the impending lawsuit.

The incident unfolded as the four journalists attempted to cover a pro-Palestinian student demonstration. Stecklow recounted his attempts to contact campus leadership via email and phone to secure access for his clients, but to no avail.

The Reason Why

The following day, Catherine Freeland, a Brooklyn College communications officer, explained the college's decision in an email to Stecklow. She cited "safety concerns related to a group establishing an encampment on the East Quad" as the reason for restricting media access. Freeland added that this decision was based on an "evolving situation, including growing external calls on social media for others to join the encampment" and that media access was limited "only to the extent necessary to preserve safety and campus operations."

However, Stecklow refuted the college's justification, stating, "There was no safety concern. It was a peaceful protest."

The demonstration involved approximately three dozen students who created what they called a "liberated zone" on a campus lawn. While some students initially pitched tents, they later took them down following orders from public safety officers.

The situation escalated later in the day when dozens of NYPD officers entered the campus around 6 p.m. and swiftly cleared the protesters without incident. However, outside the campus gates, clashes erupted as NYPD officers began making arrests.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupy a lawn on the Brooklyn College campus, May 8, 2025. Credit: Gwynne Hogan/THE CITY

Eyewitness reports indicate that students attempting to disperse near the Tanger Hillel student center were confronted by the NYPD. Disturbingly, a demonstrator was reportedly tased, and several others were allegedly punched, kicked, and body-slammed by officers, according to THE CITY. An NYPD spokesperson confirmed seven arrests and seven summonses were issued but did not provide details on the charges.

The events at Brooklyn College occurred amidst a wave of similar protests on college campuses across the nation. A day prior, the NYPD was called to Columbia University, where 80 individuals, primarily students, were arrested during an attempt to occupy a building.

Responding to Police Intervention

In response to the police intervention at Brooklyn College, a group of CUNY professors held a press conference, criticizing Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez and Brooklyn College President Michelle Anderson for involving the NYPD. Chris Stone, a professor at Hunter College and a member of CUNY Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, expressed solidarity with the students, stating, "We’re proud of our students for being on the right side of history and on Friday, we will tell the Chancellor that we stand with them in their struggle."

The lawsuit filed by the four journalists underscores the critical importance of press access to public spaces and newsworthy events. The outcome of this legal challenge could have significant implications for the ability of journalists to report on demonstrations and other events on public college and university campuses in the future.