Los Angeles police officers wearing riot gear came to the University of Southern California early Sunday to dismantle a pro-Palestinian encampment after issuing a dispersal order.
The demonstrators camped out overnight. Hours later, the area was removed. By daybreak, live footage from the campus showed officers forming a perimeter around the place, with no visible protesters present. Tents and garbage were left behind. USC’s Joel Curran, Senior Vice President of Communications, reported no arrests.
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The LAPD arrived at the site approximately at 4 a.m., warning demonstrators to leave the area willingly. That came after USC issued a notice on the social networking platform X, stating, “If you are in the center of campus, please leave.” “People who refuse to leave may face arrest.”
When police arrived, demonstrators were chanting, and some were pounding drums.
“We saw a lot of police activity on campus today.” Earlier today, we had an encampment set up here with at least 100 people,” said Zain Khan, a USC student journalist, adding that LAPD officers arrived on campus and issued a dispersal notice, after which the majority of the protesters left quietly.
“DPS and the LAPD escorted them out and essentially cleared the area,” he said. There were no reports of disputes or violent outbursts.
Curran emphasized the importance of urging the LAPD to respond and provide protection to ensure the quiet removal of the campsite.
“We would like to thank the LAPD for assisting the DPS in clearing the encampment and restoring normalcy for students and the community as quickly and safely as possible.” “We will share more information with our community later today,” Curran said.
By midday, USC President Carol Folt had issued a statement stating that the school was open and students were returning to prepare for exams.
Folt’s message continued to be shared:
“Dear Trojan Family,
“I am writing to let you know that early this morning DPS, with the assistance of the LAPD, removed the occupiers who had rebuilt their illegal encampment in Alumni Park. The operation was peaceful. Campus is opening, students are returning to prepare for finals, and commencement set-up is in full swing.
“Over the last few weeks, the university exercised patience and restraint as we worked to de-escalate a volatile situation. We’ve spoken to the occupiers daily, issued repeated warnings, and offered opportunities and locations for them to protest lawfully. We’ve supported their right to express strong opinions and passions for their cause, as always.
“Yet when free speech protests devolve into illegal occupations, violating the rights of others, we must draw a line. The occupiers repeatedly chose to ignore university policies designed to benefit everyone, and to break the law. We needed to act quickly to protect the rights of our 80,000 students, staff, and faculty. We are in the critical period from the end-of-term quiet study week, through finals and our commencement ceremonies.
“Despite our efforts to de-escalate, the occupation was spiraling in a dangerous direction over the last several days. Areas of campus were blocked, people walking down Trousdale, our main thoroughfare, were harassed, and iconic Trojan symbols were defaced. In addition, university property was stolen, and commencement structures were dismantled. Residence halls, campus throughfares, and libraries had become places of confrontation. Some finals were disrupted with noise and chanting during mandated quiet periods. Yesterday afternoon, outside agitators jumped the perimeter fencing and assaulted our officers.
“This had to stop.
“With no resolution in sight, I requested the LAPD to assist DPS in removing the encampment as peacefully and safely as possible. At 4:10 a.m., an order to disperse was issued, providing the trespassers one last opportunity to leave voluntarily. In 64 minutes, the encampment was abandoned and cleared. The operation was peaceful with no arrests. We will not tolerate illegal encampments of any kind at USC.
“Over the last week, we methodically and carefully executed on our strategy. My goals were to prioritize safety and return our campus and our surrounding community to normalcy. We were determined to ensure our students could finish their exams without further disruption and that USC could host the commencement celebrations our graduates have worked hard to earn.
“As I shared with the Trojan Family last Friday, freedom of speech is central to who we are as a university and is at the core of our democratic society. USC is home to 47,000 students with many different perspectives, and our policies are designed in a manner that allows people to express those opinions.
“In closing, I thank DPS and the LAPD for their swift action, professionalism, and concern for our students. I also thank the Trojan community and our neighbors for your patience as we navigate these challenging times.”
Earlier in the week, Folt stated that the school has initiated disciplinary proceedings against those who “violated our policies and the law.” She has not specified how many people are under investigation. The disciplinary investigations followed the April 24 arrests of 93 people on campus after a clash between protestors at the campsite and police.
Student demonstrations have taken place at USC in response to the conflict in Gaza and the administration’s decision to cancel a graduation speech by the valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, a Muslim student who has actively supported Palestinian rights. The institution made the decision in mid-April, citing safety concerns after receiving threats. Some Jewish organizations had questioned the student’s decision to speak.
Administrators eventually canceled the entire main stage concert scheduled for May 10, which was supposed to draw 65,000 people to celebrate graduation. Specific schools and universities schedule other commencement festivities, including graduation ceremonies, from Thursday to Sunday. Since late April, non-university visitors have had limited access to the private campus.
