Six CUNY students have been charged after a protest against former CIA director David Petraeus earlier this week turned violent.
About 75 people were marching outside Macaulay Honors College at 35 W. 67th St. on Tuesday to protest the university’s decision to hire Petraeus, whom the protesters consider a war criminal.
The march turned into a fight between cops and protesters, leading to the arrest of six students.
Luis Henriquez, 25, Jose Disla, 25, Augustin Castro, 23, Denise Ford, 24, Angelica Hernandez, 18, and Rafael Pena, 24, were charged with obstruction of governmental administration, riot, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, The New York Daily News reported.
But their lawyer said the group was peaceful and the students did not threaten or touch the officers.
They are due back in court Oct. 17.
Following initial protests earlier this month, Ann Kirschner, university dean at the Honors College said this in a statement: “We may disagree, but we must always do so in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding. While the college supports the articulation of all points of view on critical issues, it is essential that dialogue within the academic setting always be conducted civilly.”
Petraeus resigned from the CIA in 2012 in the wake of sex scandal. He was under fire earlier this year when it was reported that he would receive $200,000 to teach a course at the Honors College. It was later announced that he would receive $1 for the job.
