Police make arrests at Yale over Gaza war protests, Columbia University cancels classes

Police officers guard the campus of Columbia University. Photo: AP

New York’s Columbia University canceled classes today and police arrested several dozen protesters at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, as tensions on US colleges continued to rise over the war in the Middle East, the Associated Press reported. The actions at the two Ivy League high schools were taken hours before the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover tonight.

Authorities arrested about 45 protesters at Yale and charged them with trespassing, a New Haven police spokesman said.

Last week, police arrested more than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University who had organized a protest camp on campus. Today, Columbia University President Minush Shafiq expressed “deep regret” for what is happening on campus. “To reduce tension and give us all an opportunity to consider our next steps, I am announcing that all classes on Monday will be held in a virtual format,” Shafiq said. She said faculty and staff should work remotely when possible, and students who don’t live on campus should stay off campus.

Shafiq said that there is a terrible conflict raging in the Middle East and that he understands that it has had a strong emotional impact on many. “But we cannot allow one group of people to impose themselves on everyone else and try to sabotage important events like graduation to push their point,” she wrote. In the coming days, a working group of deans, representatives of the university administration and professors will try to find a solution to the crisis, she added. It is not clear from Shafik’s message when the classes will be resumed, AP notes.

Several students from Columbia University and Barnard College said they were suspended as a result of last week’s protests.

At Yale University, a large group of protesters regrouped after the arrests earlier today and blocked a street near the campus, police said. There are no reports of violence or casualties.

Source: BTA

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