According to the school, police detained over 100 people when they went in to dismantle a pro-Palestinian protest campsite after hearing anti-Semitic remarks.
The school took action when demonstrators used “virulent anti-Semitic slurs, including ‘Kill the Jews,’ which crossed the line,” according to a statement on social networking platform X.
Protests against Israel’s war with Hamas started at Columbia University earlier this month and extended to campuses across the country.
They have posed a major challenge to university administrators who are trying to balance campus commitments to free expression with complaints that the rallies have crossed a line.
Police have carried out large-scale arrests at universities in recent days, at times using chemical irritants and tasers to disperse demonstrators.
In its statement, Northeastern said campus police backed by local law enforcement moved in Saturday to clear “an unauthorized encampment” on the campus.
“What began as a student demonstration two days ago was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern,” the school said.
It added that detained individuals who produced a valid school ID have been released and will face disciplinary proceedings, not legal action.
“Those who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested,” the school said.