Yale, City Condemn 'Desecration' Of Menorah On Green, Cops Investiagte

NEW HAVEN, CT — Yale University Sunday issued a statement condemning "in the strongest possible terms" what's described as the desecration of the menorah on the New Haven Green Saturday, where a person scales the menorah and affixes a Palestinian flag. Yale said that action "conveys a deeply antisemitic message to Jewish residents of New Haven, including members of the Yale community."

Yale asked the New Haven Police Department to investigate the incident and noted it may "conduct its own investigation."

Desecration of property such as a religious object is a crime under Connecticut law, Yale noted in its statement.

The University does not accuse a Yale student for the action but noted, the University's "regulations reach conduct occurring on or off campus that imperils the integrity and values of the University community, and if such conduct is committed by a member of the Yale community, we take action."

"This incident took place in a public space in New Haven, Connecticut, off the Yale campus during a demonstration sponsored by several groups in Connecticut," the statement reads. "At this time, Yale has no information whether the perpetrator was a member of the Yale community. We will update this statement as the investigation continues, and further relevant information becomes available."

Monday morning, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven CEO Gayle Slossberg, faith leaders, police and Yale officilals, among others are set to gather on the Green to also "condemn the desecration of the Hanukkah menorah."

A news release from the Mayor's office noted the press conference is being held to
also reaffirm the Elm City as being an inclusive and welcoming place for all residents."

Speaking about the Jewish community, Slossberg said, "While we're strong, we're afraid," she said.

Myriad faith leaders joined the news conference.

"More important than my words is this picture of solidity among faith leaders," Blumenthal noted. He also claimed that egg-throwing was part of the event Saturday. He said the Palestinian flag "was used as a symbol to desecrate a religious menorah." Blumenthal questions whether the act was a crime, adding that there was no vandalism or theft but that it would be investigated to see if the action was "meant to incite violence."

Congressowmn Rosa DeLauro said, "To so desecrate this holiday is unacceptable and is shameful."

The 30-foot-tall menorah is being lit daily in celebration of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, which runs now through Friday evening. The city’s annual Menorah Lighting Festival was held last Thursday evening. New Haven has had a public menorah lighting for 42 years.

Saturday, a planned pro-Palestinian protest and rally called for city officials to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The New Haven Independent reported that during the event, "a protester climbed the menorah on the Green and lodged a Palestinian flag between the candleholders." See video posted on X, formerly Twitter, here.

In the video, a protester in black, wearing a keffiyeh, scales the menorah with a large Palestinian flag with some at first cheering him on then some other protestors can be seen and heard pleading with them to get down and then trying to take it down themselves.

There have been a number of protests in support of Palestine on the Green since early October. One, on Oct. 22, drew nearly a thousand people.

Police said they are still investigating, since there's no vandalism, it's categorized as a hateful incident.

The mayor said that since there was no damage and no theft, it "does not appear to trigger a hate crime."