Friday, May 17

US Police Disperse Pro-Palestinian Protest Camp at UCLA Amid Violent Clashes

Edited by Aishwarya Krishnan
US Police Disperse Pro-Palestinian Protest Camp at UCLA Amid Violent Clashes (image-X/Chilliebeanz)

Following the arrest of students in pro-Palestine protests at Princeton University, hundreds of police officers equipped with shields and batons entered the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) to disperse a pro-Palestinian protest camp that had been attacked by pro-Israeli supporters less than 24 hours ago.

The Los Angeles Times reported that police officers removed barriers, wood panels, and other objects serving as barricades within the camp. The operation took place in the pre-dawn hours around 3:15 am PDT (3:45 pm IST), with officers arresting occupants who refused to vacate the area.

Around 300 to 500 police officers were initially inside the camp, and approximately 2,000 more gathered outside the barricades. Reuters, quoting a local television source, noted that the officers, clad in tactical gear, began entering the UCLA campus while flash-bang devices echoed across the campus.

Reportedly, snipers were also spotted at the university.

The situation escalated as some protesters resisted, shouting slogans like “push them back” and using bright lights to disorient the police. Several protesters were seen wearing protective gear such as hard hats, goggles, and respirator masks in anticipation of the police action, following the university’s declaration of the encampment as unlawful.

Prior to the police crackdown, a clash erupted between the pro-Palestinian demonstrators and masked counter-demonstrators, leading to violence and exchanges of pepper spray. The encampment, established peacefully the previous week, witnessed a sudden turn of events during the clash, prompting a police response to restore order.

The widespread protests are being described as the biggest presentation of student activism in the US since the anti-racism rallies in 2020. The student protestors, across 30 universities, call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urge the schools to stop funding firms that support the Israeli government.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s spokesperson criticised the campus law enforcement’s response as “limited and delayed,” calling it unacceptable.

Following the unrest, UCLA announced the closure of the campus, which accommodates nearly 52,000 students, with limited operations scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

The incident at UCLA mirrors a similar situation at Columbia University in New York City, where pro-Palestinian activists were arrested for occupying a building and a tent city was removed from the campus.