Pro-Palestine protesters are upset a university let a TV show film a fake climate change encampment on campus after shutting down a real one.
FBI: Most Wanted constructed a realistic tent city at Queen’s College in City University of New York for a two-day film shoot on Monday and Tuesday.
Including tents, deliberately misspelled ‘denile is not a policy’ signs, and makeshift furniture, the set was eerily similar to those seen around universities this year.
Nearby, Powdermaker Hall was fitted with prop windows to make them look like an explosion as bloodied and dirty extras staggered over fake debris.
FBI: Most Wanted constructed a realistic tent city at Queen’s College in City University of New York for a two-day film shoot on Monday and Tuesday
Including tents, deliberately misspelled ‘denile is not a policy’ signs, and makeshift furniture, the set was eerily similar to those seen around universities this year
Protesters saw the production as capitalizing on their movement, calling it a ‘copaganda encampment’.
‘They are not only preventing students from fighting against genocide on their campus, they are financially benefiting from mocking them. No encampments allowed, unless you’re a film crew,’ one said.
Another added: ‘FBI: Most Wanted is filming a fake encampment at Queens College to demonize the student intifada and manufacture consent for the genocide of Palestine.’
This was despite the fake encampments being a climate change protest and having nothing to do with Israel’s military activity in Gaza.
A small group of protesters showed up about 5.30pm on Monday to harass the cast and crew, chanting ‘Queens College, shame on you’ and holding signs
The university said there were ‘no disruptions of any kind’ to production
CUNY called in police to clear out real encampments in April and May, leading to clashes between protesters and officers on campus.
The April raid arrested 173 protesters and many still face charges, another reason the protest groups felt the TV shoot was inappropriate.
A small group of protesters showed up about 5.30pm on Monday to harass the cast and crew, chanting ‘Queens College, shame on you’ and holding signs.
One of the groups, CUNY for Palestine, claimed the demonstration forced filming to end early, but production was already wrapped by about 12pm on Tuesday.
The university said there were ‘no disruptions of any kind’ to production.
The TV show set the upcoming episode at a factional Kincaid College and students were pre-warned about the filming
Protesters saw the production as capitalizing on their movement, calling it a ‘copaganda encampment’
The TV show set the upcoming episode at a factional Kincaid College and students were pre-warned about the filming.
An email explained some actors would be dressed as law enforcement, complete with prop guns, and fake first responder vehicles parked around campus.
Action would include a ‘chase and arrest’ scene and a stunt performer falling off a roof.
‘The Quad will be staged with tents, and firecrackers and smoke effects will be used,’ it warned
