Four demonstrators were arrested outside Rutgers Hillel in a rowdy pro-Palestinian protest in which a Rutgers University Police officer was allegedly assaulted with a pole as Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Dist. 5) held a roundtable discussion inside with students.

The April 29 incident, in which posted videos showed police wrestling with several demonstrators on the steps of Eva and Arie Halpern Hillel House on College Avenue, resulted in one of the demonstrators, Thomas Whitehead, 25, of Cranford, being charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, riot and resisting arrest. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on May 1 that he is being held in the county correctional institute.

An online search found that Whitehead was arrested and removed the week before in Jersey City during a council meeting after he became threatening over what he perceived as the city’s support of Israel. He additionally had been arrested earlier in April in Newark.

The other three demonstrators have been released. They have been identified as: Lexi Tassone, 21, of Cresskill, charged with rioting and resisting arrest; Hanah Hassan, 23, of Budd Lake, charged with rioting; and Jasmine Rodriquez, 24, of Atlantic City, charged with rioting.

The demonstration was organized by Central Jersey Democratic Socialists of America, Rutgers Students for a Democratic Society, East Brunswick for Ceasefire, Jewish Voice for Peace Central New Jersey and the Anti-Zionist Minyan.

Rutgers Hillel issued a statement the day after the protest, noting “We are appalled by the violent escalation that took place outside our building as one protester allegedly assaulted a police officer with a flag pole and some protestors yelled antisemitic slurs at Jewish students.”

The statement went on to say that Hillel appreciated law enforcement securing its building and keeping its students and guests safe and would remain in touch with the Rutgers University Police department to ensure a safe environment for students.

The protest started at approximately 7:45 p.m. in a designated area “to support peaceful demonstration while maintaining safety and access to the facility,” according to a statement sent by the university. While most demonstrators stayed within that area, a small group refused repeated requests by Rutgers Police to clear the public sidewalk. Despite efforts “to engage and de-escalate” the group blocked access, and to ensure safety and access, police formed a protective line.

“As individuals attempted to breach that line, officers declared the assembly unlawful and issued dispersal orders,” read the statement to the Jewish Link.

The statement indicated the three individuals who received lesser charges are students while Whitehead was not. The university declined to answer whether the students have been suspended or received any other disciplinary measures because it said individual student conduct charges are protected by federal law.

Gottheimer, a staunch advocate for Israel, is running to be the Democratic candidate for governor in the June primary. He also spoke that evening at Rutgers Chabad without incident.

However, Chabad Administrator Rabbi Mendy Carlebach said while standing outside waiting for Gottheimer a vehicle drove by and its occupants shouted, “you dirty Jew kikes.” Fortunately, he was able run over and snap a photo of the license plate, which he turned over to Rutgers police on May 1.

However, a bright spot for him came from an unexpected source, a secular fraternity house neighboring Hillel. As Rabbi Carlebach watched the demonstrators get especially loud the frat house began to blast Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” to drown them out.

In a statement to the Jewish Link, Gottheimer said, “With so much hate and antisemitism across our country and our state, and even here on our college campuses—it’s more important than ever before that we remain united as one community to support each other.

Let me be as clear as I can be: No student deserves to be targeted because of who they are or what they believe—here or anywhere. When the Jewish community at Rutgers is confronted by hate or intolerance, this is an attack on all of us, regardless of background, regardless of faith. I will continue to fight antisemitism and hate against anyone on this campus and around our state every single day.”