In the early hours of the morning, a significant police presence descended upon the University of California at Los Angeles to disband a pro-Palestinian protest encampment that had been targeted by pro-Israeli supporters less than a day prior, according to reports from the Los Angeles Times.
Clad in helmets and armed with shields and batons, the officers worked swiftly to dismantle barriers and clear out makeshift structures within the encampment. The operation commenced around 3:15 am PDT (3:45 pm IST), with officers making arrests of individuals who refused to vacate the area.
Witnesses estimated that initially, between 300 to 500 police officers entered the encampment, with an additional 2,000 stationed outside. The scene was tense, as officers in tactical gear advanced onto the UCLA campus, deploying flash-bang devices that reverberated across the grounds. Some protesters resisted, shouting slogans and using bright lights to confront law enforcement. Certain demonstrators had prepared for the confrontation by wearing protective gear such as hard hats, goggles, and respirator masks.
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Prior to the police intervention, the encampment had seen a violent clash sparked by masked counter-demonstrators. The initial protest had been relatively peaceful until this altercation, during which both sides engaged in physical altercations and deployed pepper spray. The confrontation persisted for several hours before law enforcement managed to restore order. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s spokesperson later criticized the campus law enforcement response, citing it as “limited and delayed.”
Following the clashes, UCLA announced the closure of the campus, except for essential operations, for the subsequent days. The university, which hosts nearly 52,000 students, expressed the need for caution and security measures in light of recent events.
The incident at UCLA occurred in conjunction with similar actions elsewhere, including at Columbia University in New York City. There, police arrested pro-Palestinian activists who had occupied a building and dismantled a tent city on the Ivy League campus. These events mark a significant surge in student activism across the United States, reminiscent of the widespread anti-racism demonstrations in 2020.
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