Yale Police Used Counterterrorism Tactics Against Peaceful Pro-Palestine Students, Report
New Haven, CT (Quds News Network)- Yale Police Department (YPD) has been using extreme surveillance and counterterrorism methods to suppress pro-Palestine activism on campus. According to a report by Jewish Currents, documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit reveal the YPD collaborated with the FBI, pro-Israel organizations, and even federal counterterrorism agencies to monitor and disrupt peaceful student protests.
On April 30, during a protest demanding Yale’s divestment from weapons manufacturing, the FBI’s New Haven office offered support to YPD. Just days later, YPD coordinated with the FBI to investigate a student accused by the zionist lobby of poking a pro-genocide student in the eye with a flag. The FBI seized the student’s phone after tracking them via surveillance footage.
The documents also show that YPD installed cameras, monitored social media, and deployed aerial drones to surveil student activists. Officers collected personal data, including ID swipe records, to build profiles on protesters. Military-grade drones and surveillance photos were part of their toolkit.
Emails from YPD leadership exposed a dismissive attitude toward student activists. One email labeled protesters as “vandals and criminals.” YPD Chief Anthony Campbell endorsed a “zero tolerance” approach, warning of swift arrests for protests resembling those at other universities.
The surveillance extended to social media accounts of student groups, including Yalies4Palestine. Police tracked Instagram followers and event registrants, fearing disruptions at campus events like the annual Spring Fling concert. The crackdown aimed to preempt protests and dismantle solidarity among pro-Palestine and allied groups.
The Jewish Currents report further reveals that the YPD collaborated with outside entities like the Secure Community Network and attended anti-Palestine trainings. These sessions often portrayed pro-Palestine activism as influenced by foreign governments or terrorist organizations.
Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, criticized the use of counterterrorism tools on campus protests. “This militarization of campus police is chilling,” said Mohammad Tajsar of the ACLU. Activists warned that these measures suppress free speech and discourage future activism.
Yale has not commented on the report. Meanwhile, student leaders vow to continue their fight for Palestinian rights and campus accountability.
