Week of Protests Culminates in Monday Arrests
New Haven, CT – LA News Center reports that police began dismantling an anti-Israel encampment on Yale University’s campus Monday morning, marking the end of a week of protests calling for the university to divest from weapons manufacturers.
At least 16 protesters were arrested as officers cleared the tents set up in the encampment at Beinecke Plaza, where over 250 agitators gathered Sunday night, according to the Yale Daily News. Images from the scene show protesters being led away in handcuffs, with some reportedly being Yale students.
Journalistic Assault Alleged Amidst Protests
The protests have been marred by controversy, with Sahar Tartak, editor-in-chief of the Yale Free Press, claiming she was surrounded by a mob and injured by a protester wielding a Palestinian flag.
“One of the students, whose face was obscured by a keffiyeh, jabbed a Palestinian flag in my face and hit my left eye,” Tartak told LA News Center Digital.
Columbia University Incident Echoes Yale Protests
The situation at Yale follows a similar incident at Columbia University last week, where anti-Israel protesters established an encampment on campus. Police ultimately removed the protesters from Columbia, leading to a temporary shutdown of university operations.
Breach of the Peace and Freedom of Speech Concerns
The protests and arrests have sparked discussion on campus about the balance between free speech and the maintenance of a safe and peaceful environment. While some support the protesters’ right to voice their opinions, others have expressed concerns that the protests have escalated into physical confrontations and disruption of university life.
University Response and Investigation
Yale University has not commented directly on the arrests or the ongoing investigation into the alleged assault. However, the university has a history of supporting freedom of expression while condemning violence and harassment. It is expected that the university will provide further updates on the situation in the coming days.
This story is still developing and LA News Center will provide further updates as they become available.
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
