Over 200 Protest at Yale Over Israel Ties, Police Monitor Scene
Over 200 students and locals gathered at Yale University to protest the institution's financial ties with Israel. The rally, organized by Yalies4Palestine, saw protesters march through campus, chalk messages, and erect a cardboard missile structure. The event was met with a police presence, with at least six Yale Police officers and two public safety officials monitoring the scene.
The rally, held on the evening of [date], was a response to Yale's recent donation to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF). Protesters argued that the university's financial support for Israel's military contradicts its commitment to social justice and human rights. The event was the first public action of the school year by Yalies4Palestine, a student organization previously stripped of its official status for a similar protest in April.
Protesters, led by Andrew Rice, a Milford resident considering a run against Rep. Rosa DeLauro, called for a connection between domestic issues and funding for Israel. They marched along College Street and Alexander Walk to Beinecke Plaza, where they chalked messages and set up a cardboard missile structure reading '$1,000,000 TO THE IDF'. The rally lasted from around 6 p.m. to 6:40 p.m., with participants expressing their disapproval of Israel's recent ground invasion of Gaza City and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to New York City.
The university responded to the protest by stating that the gathering violated campus chalking and postering policies. However, protesters argue that their actions are a form of free speech and a call for accountability. University President Maurie McInnis directed students to webpages about the University's investor responsibility policies, but protesters maintain that concrete action, such as divestment, is necessary to align the university's values with its investments.
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