'Disgraceful and cowardly': Internet slams anti-Israel protesters at Yale University as they tear down American flag

Anti-Israel protesters at Yale University tore down an American flag during a campus occupation, sparking condemnation online
PUBLISHED APR 23, 2024
Yale's anti-Israel protesters took their demonstration to an alarming level by tearing down an American flag (Getty Images, Sahar Tartak/X)
Yale's anti-Israel protesters took their demonstration to an alarming level by tearing down an American flag (Getty Images, Sahar Tartak/X)

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT: Tensions ran high at Yale University on Friday night, April 19, as anti-Israel protesters took their demonstration to an alarming level by tearing down an American flag during a campus occupation, leaving Jewish students feeling intimidated and sparking widespread condemnation, as per Wall Street Journal.

Amidst the chaos, a Jewish student journalist was reportedly assaulted, raising concerns about safety and freedom of expression on campus. These incidents occurred during an encampment at Beinecke Plaza.

Video shows activists at Yale cheering while removing American flag



 

 

A widely shared video on social media platforms captured anti-Israel activists wearing kaffiyehs cheering and celebrating as they removed the American flag.

According to eyewitnesses, more than 500 protesters had gathered at Beinecke Plaza, with the encampment organizers vowing to continue their occupation until the university met their demands for disclosure and divestment from Israel.

Pro-Israel counter-protesters were also in attendance for a few hours near Woodbridge Hall. At its busiest moment, nearly 25 individuals participated in the demonstration.

NEW HAVEN, CT - OCTOBER 18: Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut on October 18, 1981. (Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Pro-Israel counter-protesters were also in attendance for a few hours near Yale's Woodbridge Hall (Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The situation took an even more disturbing turn when Sahar Tartak, the editor-in-chief of the Yale Free Press, was allegedly assaulted while covering the protest.

According to Tartak, as quoted by the New York Post, "There's hundreds of people taunting me and waving the middle finger at me, and then this person waves a Palestinian flag in my face and jabs it in my eye."

Tartak, who was wearing Hasidic Jewish attire, claimed that she and a friend were singled out and surrounded by demonstrators, preventing them from filming the event.

Despite her efforts to report the assault to campus police, they informed her that they couldn't intervene. With no options left, she left campus to seek medical help at a nearby hospital.

(Sahar Tartak/X)
A widely-shared video shows anti-Israel activists at Yale cheering and celebrating as they removed the American flag (Sahar Tartak/X)

Internet slams anti-Israel protesters for ripping down American flag

News of anti-Israel protesters ripping down the American flag at Yale University quickly spread across the internet, prompting a wave of condemnation directed at the activists. One Facebook user said, "The left hates America. Their actions are disgraceful and cowardly." Another remarked, "They are so self-righteous but haven’t a clue about the real world. They’re lost."

A third user wrote, "The leftist ideology creating chaos and violence everywhere," while another person stated, "Should gather them up and send them to the country they love!! America don’t want them!!"

Another user didn't mince words, calling the activists "pieces of human sh*t, every last one of them." A sixth user advocated, "Bring back the draft. This is the result of entitled kids never having to serve this country."

A seventh user suggested harsh consequences, commenting, "Give them felonies, so this way they will never get a job! Haha good job parents, your kids are complete idiots!!!"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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