NEW HAVEN, CT – On Monday, April 22nd, 2024 at approximately 6:30 am, the New Haven Police Department responded to assist the Yale Police Department regarding an ongoing protest in the area of Beinecke Plaza on the Yale University campus, where students were protesting Yale University’s decision not to divest from military weapons manufacturing and the conflict in Israel and Gaza. The Yale Police Department made arrests and cleared the area. Subsequently, protesters gathered at the public intersection of Grove Street and College Street at approximately 8 am and dispersed shortly before 5 pm at the request of the New Haven Police Department. Upon the reopening of the intersection, Mayor Justin Elicker issued the following statement:
“People have a first amendment right to free speech and to protest, and New Haven has a long history of supporting people’s ability to peacefully express their views. However, it’s also important that protests are conducted in a safe and orderly manner – and, in this situation, that Yale University students protest in a manner and place that is also respectful of New Haven residents.
Grove Street and College Street is one of New Haven’s busiest intersections, and it was important to have the area open and cleared in time for New Haveners’ evening rush hour commute and for first responders to be able to utilize those key corridors in responding to 9-1-1 emergencies across the city. I appreciate that the protest remained peaceful throughout the day and that the intersection was cleared prior to the evening commute voluntarily without incident or arrest.
I want to commend Chief Jacobson and the New Haven Police Department for exercising the highest degree of professionalism in their engagement with the Yale community, for ensuring that all protestors were able to demonstrate peacefully and safely, and for successfully working with student organizers to de-escalate the situation and ensuring a peaceful and orderly reopening of these streets to the public.”
PRESS CONTACT:
Lenny H. Speiller; (203) 725-4249; Lspeiller@newhavenct.gov
