The UCLA community was left in shock on Wednesday as a night of violence erupted at a pro-Palestinian encampment. This incident has raised significant concerns about the university’s approach to handling the ongoing protests surrounding the Gaza war and has cast doubt on the future of the camp.
A group of individuals dressed in black attire and white masks made their way onto the campus shortly before midnight, with the intention of dismantling the barricades that surrounded the encampment.
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A group of campers, equipped with lumber and donning goggles and helmets, gathered together to protect the boundaries of the site.
Throughout the course of several hours, the camp was besieged by counterdemonstrators who resorted to throwing various objects, such as wood and a metal barrier, at both the camp and its occupants. Frequent scuffles erupted as some individuals attempted to forcefully enter the camp, prompting the pro-Palestinian side to utilize pepper spray in self-defense. Additionally, fireworks were launched into the camp, further intensifying the situation.
The attack continued unchecked for three hours until officers from the California Highway Patrol, LAPD, and other agencies arrived to restore order. The delayed response drew criticism and prompted calls for investigations.
In a letter addressed to the University of California Board of Regents, UC President Michael V. Drake expressed concern over the prevailing confusion surrounding the violence and its aftermath. As a result, he has taken the initiative to commission an independent review of the university’s planning, actions, and the response of law enforcement.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block referred to the incident as “a dark chapter in our campus’s history” and stated that the university is currently reviewing its security processes in response to recent events.
The future of the camp is now uncertain on campus. UCLA announced on Tuesday evening that the camp is deemed “unlawful” and goes against university policy.
In a letter addressed to the regents, Drake conveyed that Block had informed him about the university’s plans to dismantle the encampment. The encampment, which was set up last week as a call for divestment from Israel and a resolution to the military actions in the Gaza Strip, will be taken down at the “appropriate time.”
It is not clear how many individuals sustained injuries during the incident. According to Drake’s letter to the regents, 15 people were harmed. However, protesters claimed that 25 members of their group required hospitalization. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that a 26-year-old man with a head injury was transported to the hospital by paramedics.
Inside the camp, students were taking care of each other, providing treatment for eye irritation and other injuries as the violence continued.
UCLA officials expressed their strong condemnation of the violent incident and highlighted that they had reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department for assistance. It remains uncertain if any arrests were made by the police. Despite a request for comment, UCLA police did not provide a response, and the LAPD spokesperson declined to comment on the matter on Wednesday.
“Horrific acts of violence took place at the encampment tonight, prompting us to swiftly request assistance from law enforcement,” stated Mary Osako, vice chancellor for UCLA strategic communications. She added, “The fire department and medical personnel are currently present at the scene. We are deeply disturbed by this mindless violence and it needs to come to an end.”
When the violence erupted on campus, there were only a few university police present. A group of unarmed private security guards witnessed the clashes but chose not to intervene.
At approximately 1:40 a.m., riot gear-clad police officers arrived at the scene. Some of the counterprotesters started to disperse, but the clashes at the camp persisted despite the presence of law enforcement.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass called for a thorough investigation into the events that took place on campus last night. She emphasized the importance of holding accountable those responsible for launching fireworks at individuals, spraying chemicals, and engaging in physical assaults. Mayor Bass made it clear that anyone involved in any form of violence or lawlessness will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.
According to a camp representative, the counterdemonstrators persistently pushed over the barricades that demarcated the boundaries of the encampment. Some campers reported being struck by a substance that they believed to be pepper spray. In the midst of the chaos, counterprotesters endeavored to tear down the wooden boards encircling the encampment, with one individual audibly shouting, “Second nakba!” This reference alludes to the significant displacement and dispossession endured by Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Ananya Roy, a professor of urban planning, social welfare, and geography, expressed similar concerns regarding the university’s failure to address a violent counterprotest.
“It allows individuals to invade our campus as a violent mob,” she expressed. “The message is clear that they can engage in such behavior repeatedly without consequences. My university fills me with shame.”
Hours after the violent episode, students on campus were still shaken. The campus security and the CHP were actively working to strengthen all entrances into the encampment area to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Hannah Appel, an assistant professor of anthropology at UCLA, positioned herself by a nearby staircase next to Royce Hall. From this vantage point, she welcomed individuals who arrived with much-needed medical supplies, clothing, and water destined for the encampment area.
“We need to stay alert and cautious about the people entering and leaving due to the increased violence last night,” Appel remarked from behind a makeshift barricade.
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles), representing the UCLA campus, expressed his disappointment with the university administration. He stated that they had not fulfilled their responsibility to safeguard the students.
Zbur emphasized that regardless of one’s disagreement or offense towards the anti-Israel demonstrators’ messages, tactics, or goals, it is never acceptable to resort to violence. Those responsible for any violent acts must be held accountable.
The violence, condemned by the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), was reportedly carried out by a “mob of pro-Israel extremists.” Hussam Ayloush, the Executive Director of CAIR-LA, called for the identification and accountability of those involved, as well as an investigation into the police response, urging Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta to take action.
According to Ayloush, the attack on UCLA students who were supporting Palestine was just one of many instances of violence against them. He mentioned that in the past few days, pro-Israel extremists have been targeting these students with racial slurs, sexual threats, and even physical assault. Ayloush also reported an incident where a student was spat on, and another incident where a group of mice was released into the encampment.
The Jewish Federation Los Angeles expressed its strong disapproval of the violence that occurred on campus overnight in a statement released on Wednesday morning. The organization condemned the actions and held campus leaders responsible for the incident. Additionally, they called for the removal of the encampment by the chancellor.
“The despicable behavior displayed by a small number of counterprotesters last night does not reflect the Jewish community or our core principles,” the organization stated. “We firmly believe in promoting peaceful and constructive dialogue.”
Students at UCLA, among other universities, have set up tents in protest against Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and the university’s investments in companies that provide weapons or services to Israel. This wave of demonstrations includes the participation of faculty members and staff who are demanding an end to these actions and divestment from such firms.
The University of California system’s Westwood campus took a significant step by being the first to address an encampment issue. Similar encampments have also been established at UC campuses in Berkeley, Riverside, and Irvine, as well as in many other colleges and universities throughout the country.
UC has typically approached protests with a more lenient approach compared to USC, Columbia, and other campuses. Rather than calling in police and making arrests, UC has chosen to take a lighter touch in handling such situations.
On the day when the U.S. House committee investigating antisemitism revealed that Block would be testifying about his efforts to combat bias and harassment against Jewish students on campus, violence erupted. The scheduled hearing on May 23rd will also feature the presidents of Yale and the University of Michigan. It’s worth noting that these hearings have had severe consequences for the careers of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard presidents. In response to the situation, Block has already announced his decision to step down as chancellor on July 31st.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, UC President Drake expressed his complete support for UCLA’s decision. He emphasized the need for the university to be flexible when it comes to free speech, but also stressed the importance of taking action in situations where student learning and expression are hindered, university operations are disrupted, and safety is at risk.
According to the statement, the University of California campuses will collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to ensure that there is room for protests and demonstrations, while also prioritizing the safety of these events. However, it is important to note that protests that are disruptive and unlawful, infringing upon the rights of others, will not be tolerated.
He did not mention the specific behavior at UCLA that he found unacceptable.
The UC Board of Regents has set up a private meeting on Friday to address the student protests.
UC guidance has been shaped by the controversial incident at UC Davis in 2011, where students participating in peaceful protests against social and economic inequality were pepper-sprayed by the police. In response, colleges have adopted a more flexible approach, permitting protests as long as they are nonviolent and do not disrupt campus activities, including teaching and learning. The guidance emphasizes that resorting to police intervention should be a last resort.
Block emphasized on Tuesday that while a significant number of demonstrators have been peaceful, there have been instances where certain individuals have employed tactics that he described as “shocking and shameful.”
Some campus members were outraged by Block’s omission of the high levels of fear reported by pro-Palestinian students.
The “Palestinian Solidarity Encampment” released a statement accusing individuals they referred to as “Zionist aggressors” of subjecting them to continuous verbal and physical harassment. They claimed that these aggressors, who were mostly not UCLA students, had attempted to forcefully enter the camp and even threatened them with weapons. Despite these incidents, the statement expressed disappointment in the lack of intervention from campus security to ensure their protection.
The group strongly criticized UCLA’s decision to dismantle the encampment, labeling it as a “cowardly intimidation tactic” and a reflection of a pattern of suppressing student activism and silencing pro-Palestinian perspectives.
According to Dan Gold, the executive director of Hillel at UCLA, he believes that the university made the right decision in taking action against the encampment. Gold highlights the fact that Jewish students have faced bullying, harassment, and intimidation in and around the encampment. He mentions that at least 10 students were even denied access to nearby walkways after encampment monitors questioned them about their beliefs as Zionists. Gold also brings attention to the offensive drawing of a Star of David with the words “step here” in the vicinity.
Gold said that the encampment violates numerous university policies, and the failure to enforce these rules, which other students and student groups strictly adhere to, leads to chaos and unrest. Moreover, it allows for the persistence and escalation of more intense forms of hate.
The campus administration is taking steps to ensure the safety of all parties involved by significantly increasing the presence of security personnel, law enforcement officers, and staff members responsible for student affairs, stated Block. Investigations are underway by law enforcement authorities regarding the recent incidents of violence, and any barriers that were used by protestors to block access to buildings have been removed, Block added. Students found to be involved in these activities may face disciplinary actions, including suspension or expulsion.
According to UCLA, students are encouraged to utilize established university procedures in order to find suitable locations for gathering and protesting.
