UPDATE: Yale Police Charge 45 With Criminal Trespass In Protest: PD

NEW HAVEN, CT — In a late afternoon call to New Haven residents, Mayor Justin Elicker cautioned that the area around Grove, College and Prospect streets was closed to vehicular traffic "in light of ongoing protests" by Yale students, the mayor said, "protesting Yale University’s decision not to divest from military weapons manufacturing and the conflict in Israel and Gaza."

By early evening, Elicker released a statement praising the New Haven Police Department for its "successful de-escalation" of the situation.

Protesters had gathered at the public intersection of Grove and College streets at around 8 a.m.after being "cleared" from the area of the Beinecke Plaza where 45 were arrested by Yale police and charged with trespassing. Shortly before 5 p.m., Elicker said at the request of New Haven police, who'd said they would not make arrests of nonviolent protestors, the intersection, was reopened.

“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.”

Original story:

It was 6:30 a.m. when New Haven police officers were called to help the Yale Police Department handle a protest in the area of the Beinecke Plaza, according to spokesperson Officer Christian Bruckhart.

"The protesters were given commands to leave the property or be subject to arrest," he said. "Approximately 45 people refused to leave," and were charged by Yale police with first-degree criminal trespass, Bruckhart said.

Bruckhart said the 45 were taken to a "Yale Police facility where they were processed and released."

Then, at around 8 a.m., a "group of about 200 protesters returned to block the intersection of Grove Street and College Street," he said, adding the "protest is currently ongoing."

Elicker noted that the

“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.”

But he said that the "New Haven Police Department has no current plans to make any arrests of non-violent protesters."

Student protesters are demanding the University divest from companies that produce military weapons.

At 8:12 a.m., Yale Police issued an alert: "Police are responding to an incident in the area of Grove St & Prospect St, New Haven. This is due to protesters who are blocking the street. Please avoid the area while the police investigate."

Read more here.