Yale University student journalist Sahar Tartak found herself at the center of a chaotic and violent anti-Israel protest on campus Saturday evening. As the editor-in-chief of the Yale Free Press, Tartak was covering the protest, which had attracted hundreds of students in support of Palestinians.
According to Tartak, the protest had been escalating throughout the week, with students setting up a tent encampment and creating a memorial for a Palestinian terrorist. The atmosphere became tense as the crowd chanted slogans like “There is one solution, intifada revolution.”
When Tartak arrived at the protest with a friend, they were immediately targeted because of their Jewish identity. The protesters formed a blockade around them, preventing them from moving freely. Tartak described how she was surrounded by a mob of protesters, with one individual wielding a Palestinian flag jabbing her in the eye.
Despite trying to pursue the assailant, Tartak was blocked by the crowd, who seemed to be protecting him. She reported the incident to the police, who called an ambulance for her. Tartak emphasized the lack of intervention from university administrators and campus police during the violent protest.
Tartak condemned the protest as “mob violence” and expressed concern about the escalation of violence on college campuses. She highlighted the dangerous implications of allowing such behavior to go unchecked.
The incident at Yale University comes in the wake of similar protests at Columbia University, where pro-Hamas slogans were shouted, leading to multiple arrests. The demonstrations reflect a broader trend of escalating tensions surrounding the conflict in Gaza.
As the situation continues to unfold, Tartak’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing violence and intolerance on college campuses. The incident has sparked discussions about the need for greater accountability and intervention to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
