Baltimore police responded to an incident Sunday in which a passerby was accused of assaulting a protester outside of Hopkins Hillel.On Sunday, Sept. 15, Hopkins Hillel hosted Israeli soldier Arky Staiman at the Smokler Center for Jewish Life to talk about his experience in the Israel/Gaza war. Staiman is a former Baltimorean now living in Israel and is a tour guide when he is not serving active duty in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).According to a Johns Hopkins University (JHU) spokesperson, Hillel is an independent Jewish organization that works in partnership with Hopkins and other universities across the country to support college students.Hopkins Justice Collective (HJC), which describes itself on Instagram as a “Community Organization” of “students, affiliates, and alumni of Johns Hopkins,” organized a protest of the event outside the Hillel Building on North Charles Street, calling it an “Emergency Vigil.”During the protest, a passerby walking his dog engaged in disagreement with some of the protesters while they were waving Palestinian flags and yelling outside the Hillel building. According to video posted by HJC on Instagram, the protesters were using cowbells and megaphones, and shouting “Ethnic cleansing is a crime, free, free Palestine.”As the passerby passed a protester with a megaphone to her mouth, he appeared to shove the megaphone away from her face and walk away. She shouted after him that he hit her, which the passerby denied.“University officials were on hand for Sunday’s event to support and provide guidance to those students who attended the Hillel event as well as those students who were there to engage in peaceful protest,” the JHU spokesperson told Baltimore Fishbowl.The protest and the incident between the protester and passerby took place off campus, but on Instagram, HJC is demanding that Hopkins ban the passerby from campus.Baltimore City Police were present, but did not witness the specific incident. Police wrote a report, but as of this article’s publication, no charges have been filed and no arrests have been made.The police sergeant on the scene was inside the building at the time of the incident, but moved outside when he observed the crowd move quickly towards the incident, and he stated in his report that protesters told him an assault had occurred.I was able to speak to Ms. _____________ who advised me that she was utilizing a sound amplifying loud speaker (megaphone) when an individual, later identified as Mr. __________ was walking past and pushed the megaphone back into her face. I was able to speak to Mr. ____________ as he was attempting to walk away and was being pursued by protestors. I asked Mr. ________ what occurred and he stated that he was walking his dog through the crowd that was partially blocking the sidewalk when Ms. ________ began yelling in the megaphone which was directly in his face/ear. This startled him and caused harm to his ear drum thus in his quick reaction he pushed the megaphone away. Independent witnesses on scene stated that Mr. ________ simply pushed the megaphone down and others stated that he pushed the megaphone back into Ms. _________ face. I did not witness the assault occur. Both individuals were given contact cards and advised on how to press charges/obtain protective orders via the court commissioners office. While on scene I observed no visible injuries to Ms. ________ or Mr. ______. Police Report 240904912JHU has shared guidance with students regarding protests and demonstrations and what constitutes actions that are permitted while maintaining a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, and staff. Among acceptable actions are assembling peacefully, counterprotesting, expressing views, holding vigils, carrying signs and banners, handing out leaflets, and posting flyers or posters in designated areas.Listed as unacceptable are actions that disrupt the operations of the university, curtail the free speech of others, or create health, safety, or welfare concerns. This includes engaging in intimidation, threats, discrimination, harassment, or incitement to violence; targeting people based on their actual or perceived association with a particular religious, racial, or ethnic group; assembling tents or temporary structures without prior approval; vandalizing, occupying, or controlling access to university buildings or spaces; refusal to comply with directions of university officials; and more.JHU also lists resources for students wishing to engage in activism on campus in the form of protests or demonstrations. Events taking place on streets and city sidewalks adjacent to the university must have the requisite city permits and follow city ordinances, as well as state and federal law.On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas killed around 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostages. Since then, Israel and Hamas have been engaged in near constant battle. Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between fighters and civilians in its count, reports around 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in the last 11 months. In addition to the 1,200 killed in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, the Times of Israel reports Israel’s death toll from the military operation as 348.Hopkins Hillel and Hopkins Justice Collective have not responded to Baltimore Fishbowl’s requests for comment. This article will be updated if comment is provided.