New Jersey coronavirus update: Rutgers students protest COVID-19 vaccine requirement

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey (WABC) -- A group of students from Rutgers held a protest Friday morning at the New Brunswick campus to speak out against the university's requirement for students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the fall semester.

It was mostly had the appearance of a political rally, made up of mostly adults long past their college days carrying political and anti-vaccine posters.

Actual Rutgers students were harder to find to speak about the school policy, but the ones we talked to were vocal, determined to avoid the vaccine.

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An estimated 90% of those in attendance were not students and won't be headed to classes in the fall. But Maryam Wahba will be entering her senior year.

Rutgers released a statement saying it is focused on safety and that the policy is legal.

"We are committed to creating a safe campus environment in fall 2021 and to support the health and safety for all members of the Rutgers community," Senior Director of News and Media Relations Dory Devlin said. "The university has updated existing immunization requirements for students to include the COVID-19 vaccine. The university's position on vaccines is consistent with the legal authority supporting this policy."

At least one student told Eyewitness News they plan to transfer if the policy remains in place.

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