Protest at UCLA: Hundreds of Police Enter Campus During Early Morning Students’ Demonstration

The officers forcefully entered the campus in the early hours of the morning, using shields and batons to disperse a pro-Palestinian protest camp that had been attacked by pro-Israeli supporters less than 24 hours before. This mass police presence included up to 500 officers inside the camp and an additional 2,000 outside the barricades, as reported by Reuters. Flash-bang devices were used, leading to clashes with protesters who fought back and used bright lights to obstruct the police. Some protesters had prepared for the confrontation by wearing protective gear, including hard hats, goggles, and respirator masks, after the university declared the encampment unlawful.

Following repeated loudspeaker announcements, the police moved in, requesting demonstrators to clear the protest zone before the confrontation, which involved both sides exchanging blows and deploying pepper spray. The situation lasted for several hours into the early morning before order was restored. A spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the limited and delayed law enforcement response to the unrest, deeming it unacceptable. In response to the clashes, the university announced a partial closure of the campus for Thursday and Friday, with limited operations.

These clashes at UCLA and in New York are part of a wider surge in student activism across the US, resembling the anti-racism rallies of 2020. Students at numerous schools have staged rallies and established tent encampments, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urging schools to divest from companies supporting Israel’s government. Many of these protests have resulted in schools calling in police to intervene.