Pro-Palestinian protests at Yale University: What are professors demanding?

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Students remained on Yale University’s Cross Campus Wednesday in support of Palestine for the sixth day of protests.

Now, a growing number of professors have signed a letter to Yale University President Peter Salovey, demanding stronger action be taken to protect Jewish students and faculty on campus.

“There’s a way to discuss what’s going on,” said Dr. Pnina Weiss, a professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine. “There’s a way to discuss the conflict. This is just not the way.”

A letter signed by more than 75 professors was sent to Salovey, reads in part, “Enough is enough. You failed in your responsibility to protect the Jewish students, staff, and faculty at Yale.”

“We cannot have any civil discourse and learning if intimidation and threats are allowed – and tolerated,” Evan Morris, a professor of radiology and biomedical imaging and of biomedical engineering at Yale. “It’s as simple as that.”

It was sent amidst the ongoing protest at Yale in support of Palestine. These protesters are calling on the university to disclose its investments and divest from military weapons manufacturing as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

Weiss and Morris said they’ve been urging greater action for months.

“Students have been blocked from accessing libraries,” Morris said. “They’ve been prevented from walking through public spaces. Jewish students have been forced to take down Israeli flags.”

“It’s been kind of a crescendo of worsening incidents, more overt intimidation that really culminated over this past weekend,” Weiss said.

The letter outlines their concerns and demands, which include ensuring the safety and security of Jewish students and staff, making sure protestors adhere to Yale’s policies and conducting an outside audit.

“An overwhelming request, or actually demand at this point, is that antisemitism is no longer tolerated,” Weiss said.

In a message to the community , Salovey said, “behavior or remarks tha that threaten, harass, or intimidate members of the university’s Jewish, Muslim, and other communities” will not be tolerated.

“The Yale Police Department is investigating each report, and we will take action when appropriate, including making referrals for student discipline. We are providing support to affected students.”

On Tuesday, News 8 asked organizers about this.

“If members of the community are feeling unsafe, that genuinely is obviously something that needs to be addressed,” student protestor Chisato Kimura said. “I would also like to point out this is a wide coalition of folks.”

However, what Weiss and Morris want to see is accountability and change.

“Let’s see that behavior changes and that students and faculty return to a level of confidence in their ability to walk freely,” Morris said.

News 8 has reached out to Yale for comment on Wednesday about Salovey’s letter. We have not heard back.

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