More arrests after 100 people protest outside Yale president’s house

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Four more people were arrested Wednesday night after about 100 students and locals protested outside the Yale University president’s house in New Haven.

The pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in the driveway and street across from President Peter Salovey’s house. Some students said the police resorted to violence during the protest.

“Multiple officers continually slammed those individuals’ faces into the ground while they were handcuffed, causing bleeding from cuts on one protester’s nose,” said Nika, a protester and Yale alumni.

Students and locals chanted with bullhorns and many were wearing masks. They left the president’s property around 11 p.m. and attempted to march back to the main campus.

“Yale Police Department officers physically blocked students from nearing Beinecke Plaza with hostility before brutally arresting peaceful protestors who were asking what was going on,” Nika said.

Four people were charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. Police also charged one student with interfering with a police officer.

“The people that were assaulted and arrested were not acting any sort of way differently from anyone else in the crowd,” Nika said.

Protesters first set up tents almost two weeks ago at Beinecke Plaza. Police took down that encampment and made 48 arrests last week.

Officers also cleared out another encampment on Tuesday near Cross Campus.

The video below is from News 8 at 11 p.m. on May 1.

Salovey released a statement Wednesday night asking students to express their views in “nondisruptive” ways.

“I call upon everyone involved—protesters and counter-protesters—to return to expressing their views in ways that are compatible with the fundamental value of intellectual freedom, that comply with university policies, and that foster civil discourse on our campus. I hope that we can do this without further disruption and without violating policies or laws. Civil disobedience is a time-honored tradition in this nation, and with it comes consequences. I urge every member of the university community to be mindful of the effect of their choices and to be respectful of the need for civility in the way we conduct ourselves,” Salovey said in part of a statement.

Protesters waited all night outside the police station for the four people to be processed and released. They said they would not let these arrests stop them from coming back to campus and speaking out.

To see the full statement from Yale University, view the image below.

This is a developing story, stick with News 8 for updates.

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