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The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

The Daily Free Press

The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University.

The Daily Free Press

The Daily Free Press

Student encampments on Marsh Plaza. Enshrined in student protest, Boston University saw some of the largest anti-war protests in the 1960s and ‘70s, followed by anti-apartheid protests in the 1980s and similar campus activism remains prevalent at BU. MATTHEW EADIE/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

‘Decades of activism’: BU community leaders reflect on history of campus protests, coverage

Mary Goetz April 4, 2025
Boston University has a history of protests and student-led activism. Community leaders, professors and former students reflect on their experiences.
Students hold up signs, urging Boston University to designate itself as a sanctuary campus, during a walkout Thursday afternoon at Marsh Plaza. Prior to the walkout, speculation spread regarding an armed Homeland Security officer’s presence near BU Questrom School of Business and the School of Law building. JOSIE KALBFLEISCH/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Homeland Security officer spotted at BU, student groups hold walkout for a sanctuary campus

Samantha Genzer April 4, 2025
Reports of a United States Department of Homeland Security officer on Boston University’s campus Thursday afternoon, which coincided with a planned student-led walkout calling for BU to designate itself as a sanctuary campus, intensified concerns over Immigration and Customs Enforcement on campus.
A protester holds up a sign reading “Protect Our Students” during a university-wide walkout hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine at Marsh Plaza Friday. The protest featured faculty and student speakers from Boston University and surrounding universities and a march down Commonwealth Avenue. ZACH SCHWARTZ/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

SJP holds ‘Liberation Week’ faculty, student walkout at Marsh Plaza

Emma Clement March 30, 2025
Boston University Students for Justice in Palestine hosted a walkout Friday at Marsh Plaza featuring faculty and staff who support justice in Palestine to cap off its “Liberation Week” demonstrations.
Members of Boston University Students for Justice in Palestine at Marsh Plaza Wednesday. The rally, attended by approximately thirty people, began at Marsh Plaza and moved to the John & Kathryn Silber Administrative Center, where several BU police officers attempted to block participants from entering. JOSIE KALBFLEISCH/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

SJP holds rally in front of administrative offices

Truman Dickerson March 5, 2025
"Emergency rally" held by Students for Justice in Palestine outside Boston University administrative offices Wednesday.
Nathan Philips, a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Earth and Environment. The professor held an individual demonstration at Marsh Plaza Wednesday in response to President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post Tuesday threatening the expulsion or imprisonment of university community members who commit “illegal protests.” PHOTO BY PHOEBE MILLER

BU professor, alum stand against Trump statements on protesting, federal funding cuts

Phoebe Miller March 5, 2025
Boston University Professor Nathan Phillips stood at the base of the Martin Luther King Jr. statue at Marsh Plaza Wednesday morning holding a cardboard sign protesting the Trump administration.
A picture of the Boston University Student Activities Office with signs taped to the doors posted to the BU Students for Justice in Palestine Instagram account. Following this post, BU SJP announced it would be holding an emergency rally Wednesday. SARAH CRUZ/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

SJP placed on probation by SAO for referendum posters

Truman Dickerson March 3, 2025
Boston University Students for Justice in Palestine was placed on probation by the Student Activities Office Monday for violating the University’s Publications and Publicity Policy.
A display in Marsh Plaza organized by Boston University Students for Israel Tuesday. It was to commemorate the 500-day anniversary of Oct. 7, 2023. COURTESY OF FLORENCE AND CHAFETZ HILLEL HOUSE

BU Students for Israel organizes display at Marsh Plaza to commemorate Oct. 7

Jack Schwed February 18, 2025
Boston University Students for Israel organized a display at Marsh Plaza Tuesday to commemorate the 500-day anniversary of Oct. 7, 2023.
Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground. Boston University students held an independent town hall meeting at HTC Sunday, where speakers discussed community activism participation and the fate of the University-wide divestment referendum bill. SARAH CRUZ/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

BU Resistance Network holds leftist student town hall in Howard Thurman Center

Eli Pekelny February 18, 2025
Boston University students held an independent student organizing town hall at the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground Sunday, where speakers discussed participating in community activism and the fate of the University-wide divestment referendum bill.
People hold signs criticizing the United States immigration policies during a walkout against mass deportation on Friday. Boston University student groups organized the walkout which called for the University to condemn the Trump administration’s immigration policy and defend students against mass deportation plans. AVA RUBIN/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

‘It’s ridiculous to not do anything’: BU students hold walkout against mass deportation

Camille Bugayong January 26, 2025
Boston University students held a walkout at Marsh Plaza Friday in response to President Donald Trump signing executive orders targeting immigrants and enacting mass deportation, which have already been put into action across the United States.
A person writes the names of Palestinians who were killed in Gaza. Boston University Students for Justice in Palestine is holding multiple events this week for the anniversary of Oct. 7, including the writing of the names of victims. BARRETT WALSH/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

BU Students for Justice in Palestine memorializes lives lost for Oct. 7 anniversary

George Lehman October 8, 2024
Boston University Students for Justice in Palestine hosted a memorial event where members wrote the names of the more than 41,000 people killed in Gaza this past year since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
A person places a name on Boston University Hillel’s memorial at Marsh Plaza. BU Hillel and Boston University Students for Israel co-sponsored the memorial for people who died during the attack on Israel. KATE KOTLYAR/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

BU Students for Israel, BU Hillel hold memorial on anniversary of Oct. 7

Vivian Ainomugisha October 8, 2024
Boston University Students for Israel and BU Hillel held a memorial at Marsh Plaza on the first anniversary of Oct. 7, 2023, to honor those lost in Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Protestors and members of the Boston University Graduate Workers Union march down Commonwealth Avenue toward 1 Silber Way during a walkout on May 1. BUGWU, which has been on strike since March 25, demands higher waves, comprehensive healthcare, childcare funding and workload protections from the University’s administration. KATE KOTLYAR/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Graduate worker strike continues: everything to know about BUGWU so far

Kayla Baltazar June 2, 2024
The Boston University Graduate Workers Union has entered its 10th week of striking against the BU administration. Here is everything you need to know about BUGWU so far.
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