Around 20 faculty members from UCLA took part in a protest on Saturday evening outside the celebrity-filled gala at the UCLA Hammer Museum. The protestors were advocating for amnesty to be given to the pro-Palestinian students who were arrested on campus earlier in the week. Additionally, they called for the immediate resignation of Chancellor Gene Block.
As the annual Gala in the Garden commenced, a sophisticated crowd, clad in cocktail attire, made their way into the museum. Guests indulged in bespoke cocktails and savored delectable bites served on trays. Amidst the elegant ambiance, Jonathan Grossman, an esteemed professor from the English Department, held Block responsible for what he and his colleagues perceived as a twofold injustice inflicted upon pro-Palestinian student activists. According to Grossman, the students had endured unnecessary harsh treatment from the police while their encampment was being dismantled. Additionally, he claimed that law enforcement had failed to protect these same students from the violent attacks of counterprotesters the previous night.
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Elizabeth O’Brien, a professor in the History Department, witnessed a distressing incident on Tuesday night. She described it as a horrifying mob attack that lasted for four hours, specifically targeting pro-Palestinian students.
O’Brien recalled a distressing incident where he and his colleague implored the police to take action. Shockingly, instead of providing assistance, a police officer responded by brandishing a weapon, further escalating the situation. The duo had only wanted to ensure the safety of the students amidst the chaos caused by the mob.
O’Brien presented an X-ray that she claimed showed broken bones in one of her student’s hands.
“She was peacefully protesting when they shot her with rubber bullets,” O’Brien stated, expressing his disappointment in Chancellor Block’s failure to ensure the safety of the students.
UCLA’s police chief, John Thomas, allegedly did not fulfill the requirement of submitting a written safety plan and deploying sufficient personnel to maintain order, according to insider sources. However, Thomas vehemently denied any accusations of security negligence and claimed to have done everything within his power to ensure the safety of the students. Chancellor Block acknowledged the incident involving pro-Palestinian protesters as a regrettable event in the university’s history and expressed the intention to review and improve existing protocols in response to this incident.
The Hammer’s gala is known for attracting some of the biggest names in the Los Angeles museum fundraising scene. This year, the confirmed guest list is nothing short of star-studded. Among the attendees are Hollywood icons Jane Fonda, Ava DuVernay, Keanu Reeves, Will Ferrell, Joel McHale, and Owen Wilson. Adding to the excitement, acclaimed singer k.d. lang is scheduled to perform at the event.
Jodie Foster was present to pay tribute to Ann Philbin, the esteemed director of the Hammer Museum, who recently announced her upcoming retirement. Prior to introducing Philbin, Foster also made mention of the Gaza protests taking place at UCLA and other universities across the nation. According to Foster, speaking out is an integral part of the arts.
“We are all acutely aware of the current events and the protests,” Philbin addressed the gala attendees, acknowledging that the violence at UCLA’s campus had dampened the evening’s spirit. “I understand that this is a challenging time for celebration, and I am grateful that all of you have chosen to be here.”
Later on, she emphasized the importance of protecting the sacred rights of freedom of expression and the right to protest.
