Law enforcement officers gathered in large numbers on Wednesday evening at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to disperse a pro-Palestinian protest camp attacked the previous night by pro-Israel supporters.
Pictures showed police in tactical gear entering the UCLA campus near a cluster of tents occupied by protesters. Some activists wore protective gear like hard hats, goggles and respirator masks, expecting the impending raid following the university’s declaration of the encampment as unlawful.
UCLA has suspended classes for the day and set to conduct an investigation over the issue. The UCLA Chancellor Gene Block has confirmed the investigation can lead to “arrests, expulsions and dismissals.”
As per the official statement by the university, an “appalling” assault on pro-Palestinian demonstrators, which came hours after their encampment had been declared an unlawful assembly by UCLA, was committed “by a group of instigators.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom have issued separate statements condemning the overnight violence and called for an investigation. However, neither the Los Angeles Police Department nor the university have agreed to give official statements about arrests to news agency Reuters.
Police Crash at UCLA
Amidst escalating tensions at UCLA, clashes erupted as counter-demonstrators, some masked and seemingly unrelated to the campus, engaged in violent confrontations with pro-Palestinian protesters.
The turmoil followed UCLA’s declaration of an unlawful encampment on campus, sparking clashes where objects were hurled, barriers attacked, and pro-Jewish remarks yelled. Both sides resorted to pepper spray, with allegations of counter-protesters launching fireworks and wielding bats and sticks.
Benjamin Kersten, representing Jewish Voice for Peace, lamented the violence, attributing it to the continuous presence of counter-protesters. Police intervened to restore order and ensure public safety, clearing the encampment area amidst heightened security measures.
As per reports, Wednesday saw a calmer atmosphere with increased police presence, though details regarding arrests and injuries remained undisclosed.
Clashes at Columbia University
In New York City, police clad in helmets and tactical gear apprehended pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupying Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall. The protest followed the attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants on October 7 resulting in approximately 300 arrests across Columbia and City College of New York.