Marisa Peryer
48 activists from Yale and Harvard were charged with disorderly conduct on Saturday following their halftime demonstration at the game, the New Haven Police Department confirmed on Monday.
Hundreds of students and alumni stormed the Yale Bowl on Saturday demanding that both institutions divest from fossil fuels, private prisons and Puerto Rican debt. While most returned to their seats at the urgings of Yale Police officers, the remaining protestors delayed the start of the second half of the game.
According to the press release from NHPD, 48 individuals who remained were given misdemeanor summons by the police. Mark Rosenberg ’20 was arrested on charges of criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct and interfering with police, the press release said. Michael Gaspar also arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing.
The 48 activists are required to appear at the New Haven Superior Court at 9 a.m., Dec. 6. NHPD public information officer Sergeant Shayna Kendall was not immediately available for comment.
NHPD’s statement released the names of 49 activists, excluding that of a 17-year-old juvenile, who was also charged. The News has confirmed that at least 18 of the protestors who were issued misdemeanor summons were Yale undergraduates. At least one Yale alumnus and one Yale instructor were also charged.
The protest, which lasted well into what would have been the third quarter, was led by the Yale Endowment Justice Coalition and Divest Harvard. The crowd congregated at around the 50-yard mark in the Yale Bowl and chanted “okay boomer” and “hey hey, ho ho, fossil fuels have got to go” for over half an hour.
In a statement on Saturday, University spokesperson Karen Peart wrote that while Yale stands “firmly for the right to free expression,” the disruption of University events is prohibited.
“We stand with the Ivy League in its statement that ‘It is regrettable that the orchestrated protest came during a time when fellow students were participating in a collegiate career-defining contest and an annual tradition when thousands gather from around the world to enjoy and celebrate the storied traditions of both football programs and universities,’” she wrote.
Yale cinched the Ivy League Championship in double overtime after the sun had set. Since then, the demonstration has gained attention from national media outlets and garnered support from celebrities and politicians including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Kenneth Cole. Demonstrators have set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to pay for legal fees, fines and organization costs. As of Monday afternoon, over $12,000 has been raised.
The New Haven Superior Court is located at 121 Elm Street.
Matt Kristoffersen | matthew.kristoffersen@yale.edu
Clarification, Nov. 26: A previous version of this article included an incomplete list of Yale affiliates charged in the protest. The article has been updated to hyperlink to the NHPD press release including the list of all 50 charged individuals and to specify the number of involved Yale affiliates the News was able to confirm. Birthdates have been redacted for privacy reasons.