Ariela Lopez, Contributing Photographer

At around 6 a.m., Yale and New Haven Police officers began to block access to Cross Campus as they moved to clear the pro-Palestine encampment. By 8:09 a.m., Yale facilities workers cleared the protest encampment of tents and other belongings. No arrests were made Tuesday morning, per the University spokesperson, and all protesters left the encampment when asked. 

In the morning, after taping off the area around the encampment on Cross Campus, police officers also blocked off access from College Street to the lawn next to Grace Hopper College.

“Anyone within the caution tape is going to be arrested,” one New Haven police officer told the News. At 6:26 a.m., Yale Police Chief Anthony Campbell announced that anyone who did not vacate the area by 6:30 a.m. would be subject to arrest and “emergency suspension.” 

At 6:28 a.m., protesters moved off the lawn to College Street after Campbell’s announcement, where they continued to chant while facilities cleared the encampment. 

According to the Yale College Undergraduate Regulations, an emergency suspension is issued when a student has been “arrested for or charged with serious criminal behavior by law enforcement authorities” or has “allegedly violated a disciplinary rule of Yale College and the student’s presence on campus poses a significant risk to the safety or security of members of the community.”

The Cross Campus encampment was set up Sunday afternoon following a 1,000-person march through downtown New Haven, where around 250 pro-Palestine protesters set up 40 tents on Cross Campus. 

Yesterday, in an around 88 to 55 vote, protesters decided to reject the administration’s offer and decided to keep their encampment. 

Yale College Dean Pericles Lewis, who negotiated with protesters, offered them the opportunity to meet with two Yale Corporation members. This meeting would follow a separate meeting between five protest leaders, two heads of college and Lewis, and it would be contingent on protesters’ “compliance with University policies,” per Lewis’ email. 

On Sunday, Campbell told the News that any decision to arrest protesters would come from “senior leadership” at the University, but did not specify which administrators.

Lewis also extended amnesty to protesters who would leave the encampment by 9:30 p.m., writing that they would “not be disciplined for any trespassing since the previous round of arrests last Monday.”

The deadline to accept the offer passed yesterday at 9:30 p.m. 

“We’re back at the same place that we were last Sunday night,” Chisato Kimura LAW ’25, a student protester, told the News last night, referencing negotiations that broke down between administrators and organizers of last week’s encampment on Beinecke Plaza. According to Kimura, an offer without disclosure of Yale’s investments did not meet protesters’ demands.

Read the News’ live updates from Tuesday morning below.

— Tristan Hernandez, Editor in Chief & President, and Yurii Stasiuk, Print Managing Editor

Update, May 1: This article has been updated to add Campbell’s comment on who would make the decision to arrest students.

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9:02 a.m.:

Multiple entrances onto Cross Campus from High Street are now open. Police officers also took down the tape separating Sterling Memorial Library from Cross Campus. 

NHPD Chief Jacobson told the News that NHPD officers are departing. The traffic brigade of motorcycles left at around 8:50 a.m.

Jacobson said that his decision to ask the protesters to not impede traffic but not issue a formal dispersal warning was “kind of a group thought” between NHPD and YPD. He spoke of the importance of protesters’ First Amendment rights, but also of being mindful of students trying to study. 

— Ariela Lopez, Staff Reporter

8:29 a.m.:

As of 8:29 a.m., protesters have begun to disperse. One organizer announced to the crowd, “We will return. Keep checking Instagram. Trust. We will be back.” Another organizer gave protesters an opportunity to speak into the microphone and address the crowd. 

There are around 50 protesters remaining on the sidewalk, listening to speeches given by other protesters through megaphones and continuing to chant.

— Jane Park, Arts Editor, and Josie Reich, Staff Reporter

8:16 a.m.:

NHPD Chief Karl Jacobson made an announcement to the crowd of protesters at 8:16 a.m. He told protesters that, “per the Yale Police Department,” protesters will not be allowed back onto Cross Campus until the area has been cleared by YPD. 

“No one will be arrested where they are now,” Jacobson said through a megaphone. “But please do not impede traffic or go in the road.” 

The protesters screamed “Shame on you” at the NHPD officers making the announcement.

— Jane Park, Arts Editor, Khuan-Yu Hall, City Editor, and Ariela Lopez, Staff Reporter

8:09 a.m.:

As of 8:09 a.m., all encampment tents have been taken down. Facilities workers employed by Yale are packing all belongings into black trash bags. The Cross Campus area is almost completely cleared. 

— Jane Park, Arts Editor, and Emily Khym, Staff Reporter 

8:08 a.m.:

Julia Adams, head of Grace Hopper College, sent an email to students in the college recommending that they enter and exit Hopper through the 189 Elm St. gate rather than the Cross Campus gate. 

“A note that the YPD is currently cautioning students not to exit Hopper via the Cross Campus gate,” Adams wrote. “There has been no formal announcement — this is students’ current experience.”

— Yolanda Wang, Staff Reporter, and Sarah Cook, University Editor

8:07 a.m.:

A University spokesperson wrote to the News that early this morning, Yale personnel issued final warnings to protesters in the Cross Campus encampment that they must “end the encampment or face discipline, including suspension for violating university rules and arrest for trespassing.”

According to the spokesperson, the university is in the process of clearing tents and other items from the area because the encampment was “located near student dorms, libraries, and classrooms, where many students are writing their final papers and studying for final exams.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that no arrests were made this morning and that all protesters left the encampment when asked. 

“The university does not tolerate the violation of its longstanding policies on using on-campus outdoor spaces, postering, and chalking, or the use of amplified sound,” the spokesperson wrote.

Last week, the University clarified that its policy on outdoor structures requires students to obtain permission from specific administrators in advance of setting up structures in campus spaces.

— Ariela Lopez, Staff Reporter, and Tristan Hernandez, Editor in Chief & President

8:04 a.m.:

“You can’t enter. Probably won’t be able to for a long time,” a YPD police officer on site told the News when reporters tried to leave Berkeley from the gate facing Cross Campus.

— Emily Khym, Staff Reporter 

8:01 a.m.:

Protesters have started to chant “YPD, KKK, IDF they’re all the same.” As of now, there are roughly 60 protesters on College Street.

— Adam McPhail, SciTech Editor

7:52 a.m.: 

Yale facility workers have begun to take down encampment tents on Cross Campus.

— Emily Khym, Staff Reporter, and Adam McPhail, SciTech Editor

The update has been corrected to clarify that it was Yale facilities workers clearing Cross Campus.

7:38 a.m.:

“Y’all they were so fucking afraid of what we built that they pushed us back not once, not two times, but three times,” an organizer announced to the crowd at 7:34 a.m. “What we’ve done here is created community that doesn’t rely on the police to keep us safe.”

The crowd of protesters then began to chant “We’ll be back” on repeat and sing “We shall not be moved.” 

— Adam McPhail, SciTech Editor, and Jane Park, Arts Editor

7:20 a.m.:

“Emergency suspension,” which any protesters who remain in the encampment have been threatened with, is issued in writing. Students will have 24 hours to respond to the notice. The Yale College Undergraduate Regulations do not specify whether emergency suspensions are issued virtually or handed to students in person.

According to the Regulations, an emergency suspension is issued when a student has been “arrested for or charged with serious criminal behavior by law enforcement authorities” or has “allegedly violated a disciplinary rule of Yale College and the student’s presence on campus poses a significant risk to the safety or security of members of the community.”

This type of suspension “may be lifted earlier by action of the dean or a delegate of the dean, or by the disciplinary committee after a preliminary review.”

The News could not verify whether any students have been issued an emergency suspension. 

— Josie Reich, Staff Reporter

This update has been corrected with more information on the Undergraduate Regulations.

7:13 a.m.:

Yale Police Officer Sabrina Wood told the News that officers are now going through the encampment, searching for valuable goods like medications, phones and computers. 

Personal items will be made available for retrieval at the Yale Police Department later this afternoon, according to Wood. She added that other items, like tents and blankets, would be brought to the Yale Office of Facilities at 150 York St. Those other items will also be able to be retrieved, but likely not as soon.

— Khuan-Yu Hall, City Editor

7:11 a.m.:

As of 7:11 a.m., there are now around 115 protesters gathered on College Street. 

— Jane Park, Arts Editor

7:02 a.m.:

Ezra Stiles Head of College Alicia Camacho, who was present during the arrests on Beinecke Plaza last week, is on scene. Camacho declined to comment for the News, only saying that she was here for her students. 

— Ariela Lopez, Staff Reporter

This update has been corrected with the proper spelling of Alicia Camacho’s name. 

6:58 p.m.:

Officers have closed off Alexander Walk. The Humanities Quadrangle remains accessible, but cannot be reached by walking through Alexander walk.

Around eight YPD officers are stationed by the front of Alexander Walk. The News overheard one officer say they are “serving and protecting” when a protester approached them.

— Emily Khym and Josie Reich, Staff Reporters, Jane Park, Arts Editor, and Khuan-Yu Hall, City Editor

6:57 a.m.:

“NHPD has no plans to arrest unless people try and block the road again,” NHPD officer Christian Bruckhart wrote to the News. 

Any arrests of protesters on campus would be made by Yale police, not NHPD officers.

Bruckhart told the News that 26 NHPD officers and supervisors and three NHPD motorcycles are on the scene. 

— Ariela Lopez and Josie Reich, Staff Reporters

This update has been corrected to clarify that Yale police handle arrests on campus.

6:55 a.m.:

As of 6:55 a.m., the entire perimeter of Cross Campus, as well as Alexander Walk, has been closed off to the public. When asked about how long this area will remain closed, YPD officers said that they were unsure. 

— Jane Park, Arts Editor

6:54 a.m.:

Protesters have begun to chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “from the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever.” 

— Adam McPhail, SciTech Editor

6:52 a.m.:

According to NHPD Chief Karl Jacobson, no students have been arrested so far. Jacobson wrote that the protesters so far are “complying with the orders to leave.”

— Ariela Lopez, Staff Reporter

6:51 a.m.:
There are around 40 police YPD officers guarding the taped-off area between Hopper and Berkeley colleges. More protesters are joining the crowd on College Street.

Protesters are chanting “Officers, officers can’t you see, you’re on the wrong side of history. Officer Wood, you’re on the wrong side of history. Chief Campbell, you’re on the wrong side of history.”

-Emily Khym, Staff Reporter

6:50 a.m.:

YPD officers directed reporters to Sergeant Sabrina Wood as the point person for media. When reporters reached out for comment, Sergeant Wood referred all reporters to Yale’s Office of Public Affairs & Communications.

— Jane Park, Arts Editor

6:47 a.m.:

New Haven Police Department Officer Christian Bruckhart told the News that the Yale Police Department requested NHPD assistance. Bruckhart said that, to his knowledge, the YPD has been planning this action since yesterday.

Bruckhart estimated that around 20 NHPD officers are on the scene, but was not able to provide an exact number. The News previously estimated there were 50 officers on the scene but could not verify how many of them were Yale and how many were New Haven Police.

—Ariela Lopez, Staff Reporter

6:46 a.m.: 

The News could not confirm whether any protesters remained in the encampment. Officers have announced that anyone who remains in the encampment will be arrested.

— Yurii Stasiuk, Managing Editor

6:40 a.m.:

Yale Police officers threatened protesters and the News with arrest if they did not vacate the entirety of the Cross Campus lawn. About 75 protesters have now congregated on College Street.

— Khuan-Yu Hall, City Editor

6:40 a.m.:

Yale Police officers are not letting student enter Berkeley College’s South Court from Elm Street or from the Cross Campus entrances. Students in Berkeley will be allowed to exit.

— Ariela Lopez, Staff Reporter

6:40 a.m.:

“If your children were here, would you put them in zip ties? How many of them would you arrest?” asked one protester.

— Jane Park, Arts editor

6:31 a.m.:

All protesters, as well as members of press, were warned to vacate the lawn if they did not want to face emergency suspension or arrest. Both protesters and members of press

— Jane Park, Arts Editor, and Emily Khym, Staff Reporter

Ariela Lopez, Khuan-Yu Hall, Jane Park, Chloe Edwards, Yurii Stasiuk, Adam McPhail, Giri Viswanathan, Emily Khym, Josie Reich and Tristan Hernandez contributed reporting.