Officers in riot gear from the Los Angeles Police Department descended on the UCLA campus Thursday morning to start clearing away barricades around the perimeter of a pro-Palestinian protest encampment.
The encampment was the site of a clash between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters late Tuesday into Wednesday morning, the Independent News Journal previously reported.
Pro-Israel protesters “launched fireworks, metal barriers and tear gas toward the encampment,” per the Daily Bruin, the campus newspaper.
On Tuesday, UCLA officials said the pro-Palestine encampment was unlawful, and anyone affiliated with UCLA could face suspension or expulsion.
The protests at UCLA are among the many throughout U.S. college campuses against the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza as school officials attempt to keep their campuses safe, per USA Today.
Early Thursday morning, Pro-Palestine supporters were heard chanting, “Cops go home,” “Peaceful protest” and “Shame on you,” according to the Daily Bruin.
Protesters tried to resist officers’s advancement by arming themselves with shields and umbrellas. They also flashed lights at the officers, according to USA Today, adding some protesters were detained and were seen kneeling with their hands zip-tied behind their backs.
And students weren’t the only ones protesting.
Graeme Blair – an associate professor of political science and member of Faculty for Justice in Palestine at UCLA – said in a text message to the Daily Bruin that protesting professors were ready to be arrested along with students.
“We are doing this to call attention to the unjust and criminalizing UC decision to call in the police,” he said. “We will support our students until they are released, and then we will be back with them to recenter attention on divestment.”
Blair provided updates to the Daily Bruin via text messages.
He said student protesters were “violently dragged” by California Highway Patrol officers and some students were injured. He added stun grenades were used and officers pointed guns at students.
“Their blood is on Gene Block and the UC administration’s hands for a series of catastrophic decisions over the last two days,” Blair said. “It did not need to be this way.”
Blair said he thought the events spurred by officers in Dickson Plaza were disgusting.
“Faculty are standing to bear witness to this unnecessary horror,” Blair said. “We are prepared to be arrested and expect to be soon.”
The Israeli-Hamas War in Gaza started on Oct. 7 after about 1,200 people in southern Israel were killed after a Hamas attack. More than 200 taken hostage, per USA Today.
Israel struck back and killed about 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The ongoing war has sparked the student protests as they demand colleges not invest in Israeli companies and give amnesty to student protesters.
Classes at UCLA were canceled Wednesday. Remote learning was planned for Thursday and Friday, the school announced.
