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Security stepped up for ‘Solidarity with Palestine’ rally at Princeton University after threat made on social media

ByKrystal Knapp Updated
2 Comments

Princeton University’s Public Safety Department issued an alert on Wednesday morning, Oct. 25 to notify the university community about a threat that was made on social media related to a campus event.

The alert did not name the event, the Princeton Walkout in Solidarity with Palestine. Security will be stepped up at the afternoon event, law enforcement representatives said.

The event is one of several rallies and vigils that have taken place on campus since the Israel-Hamas War began. Hamas massacred hundreds of civilians across southern Israel to trigger the conflict. Israel responded with airstrikes. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed since the conflict began, most of them in the initial attacks by Hamas. In Gaza, at least 5,791 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 704 in the past day, and 16,297 people have been wounded. In the occupied West Bank, 96 Palestinians have been killed and 1,650 wounded since Oct. 7.

“On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, the Department of Public Safety became aware of a threatening social media post in reference to an event planned for this afternoon in the area of Frist North Lawn,” reads the campus alert. “The University is committed to peaceful free expression and has taken several steps to ensure the safety of all campus community members. State and Federal law enforcement have been notified and additional Public Safety personnel will be on scene. The threat will continue to be investigated by law enforcement.


Officials will update the campus community in the evening after the event is over, according to the alert.

The Department of Public Safety has asked community members to do the following:

  • Report suspicious behavior or activity immediately by calling the Department of Public Safety at 9-1-1 or by using any blue light emergency phone located throughout campus.
  • Stay alert and tuned in to your surroundings. Be aware and prepared.
  • Trust your instincts, and if you do not feel comfortable in a place or situation, leave.

Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.

2 Comments

  1. Thanks for the public safety update. You’re quoting exact Gaza casualty numbers, which are provided by the Hamas health ministry. Not sure why you wouldn’t just say “thousands” which is very likely, or if you give exact numbers, cite Hamas as the source, which would be good journalistic practice. The US government says not to believe Hamas numbers.

  2. As Reuters reported, international humanitarian agencies including UN’s OCHA and the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program consider the Gaza death toll numbers to be reliable. There are no issues with journalistic practice here.

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