Yale Police Disperse Pro-Palestinian Encampment, Arresting Nearly 50 Students
Police at Yale University dispersed a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus on Monday, arresting nearly 50 students. The protesters had been camping in Beinecke Plaza for three days, demanding the university break ties with military weapons manufacturers linked to Israel.
The encampment was raided early in the morning, with police officers cordoning off the area and demanding the protesters disperse. Some opted to leave, while others refused and were arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing.
Biden Administration Vows Action Against Pro-Palestinian Protests on Campuses
The White House has vowed to take action against pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Biden administration has slammed an “alarming surge of anti-Semitism” on campuses, vowing to aggressively implement a new strategy to protect the Jewish community.
Arrests Fail to Deter Protesters, Hundreds Return to Plaza
Despite the arrests, pro-Palestinian protesters have continued to gather at Yale. Around 300 protesters blocked the intersection at the Plaza despite a heavy police presence remaining in the area.
Alleged Assault Precedes Encampment Raid
The raid on the camp was preceded by minor violence at the Plaza, with altercations between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students reported. Notably, the editor-in-chief of the Yale Free Press, Sahar Tartak, claimed she was stabbed in her eye with a Palestinian flag. Tartak alleged the assault was due to her being “visibly Jewish.”
The effort to end the pro-Palestinian protest at Yale follows similar protests at other universities, including Columbia University, where over 100 protesters were detained last week.
