Pro-Palestinian protesters at Yale University reportedly disbanded an encampment after the school threatened arrests despite promising to carry it through the night.
The activists picked up their tents and left after 11:00 p.m. Tuesday night, announcing that administrators had threatened “retribution,” Yale News reported. The incident was a far cry from the often persistent and disruptive protests at universities in 2024 that prompted the Trump administration to investigate Yale and other universities over alleged antisemitism.
Yale told the Daily Caller News Foundation that an “unregistered group” staged an “unauthorized” gathering and “violated Yale’s time, place, and manner policies” for protests, resulting in “disciplinary action” for some students.
“University officials articulated Yale’s policies and the consequences of violating them and actively cleared the area, which has remained clear since that time,” the university said.
Jewish students aren’t allowed to walk through Yale’s campus anymore! pic.twitter.com/ywa8Z7V6KU
— Netanel Crispe (@NetanelCrispe) April 23, 2025
The protesters disbanded after Yale officials reportedly passed around cards ordering them to stop their unauthorized encampment “immediately” or “risk university disciplinary action and/or arrest.” The cards showed a QR code linking to Yale’s rules for protests and assemblies. Protesters then began chanting, “Do not scan the QR code,” Yale News reported.
Other Yale policies specifically ban people from setting up structures such as a “tent” in an outdoor campus space unless they obtain permission.
“During the interaction, staff identified students who had been warned or disciplined in previous incidents that violated university policy,” Yale told the DCNF. “Those students have received written notice today that they are subject to immediate disciplinary action.”
The crowd of around 200 had reportedly gathered in opposition to Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s upcoming visit to a Jewish organization near the university. Organizers said they would attempt another campus protest Wednesday.
Protesters, many covering their faces with Palestinian keffiyehs or other items, appeared to form a human chain to block individuals from accessing parts of the campus where the demonstration took place, according to videos posted on X by Netanel Crispe, a Jewish student at the university.
Jewish students are once again being blocked from walking around on Yale’s campus! pic.twitter.com/17zjoU9wK1
— Netanel Crispe (@NetanelCrispe) April 23, 2025
President Donald Trump’s Education Department (ED) launched an investigation into Yale on March 19 based on discrimination complaints claiming that anti-Israel activists were making Jewish students feel unwelcome. Yale and dozens of other schools received a March 10 letter warning them “to protect Jewish students on campus” or lose federal funds.
Yale was one of several campuses to see chaotic protests against Israel in 2024, with attendees pitching tents, getting arrested by the dozens and stabbing a visibly Jewish student in the eye with a flag pole for trying to film them.
A university spokesperson told Yale News in March that school officials “have a track record of taking antisemitism seriously and will cooperate fully with” the Trump administration’s inquiries.
“Yale supports free expression on campus, including permitting peaceful vigils, rallies, protests, and counterprotests that comply with the university’s time, place, and manner rules,” the school told the DCNF.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include a comment from Yale University.
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