2024 University of California, Los Angeles pro-Palestinian campus occupation

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2024 UCLA pro-Palestinian campus occupation
Part of the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses
UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment looking toward Powell Library from Royce Hall on May 1st, 2024
DateApril 25, 2024 – May 2, 2024
(1 week and 3 days)
Location
Los Angeles, California, United States
Caused by
Goals
Methods
StatusProtestors suppressed:
  • LAPD raids encampment on May 2 and clears the area
  • Participants arrested and suspended
Parties

Pro-Palestinian groups:

Casualties
Injuries15-25+ protesters (at least one hospitalized)[1][2] and 4 reporters by counter-protesters[3], Multiple protesters injured by rubber bullets fire by police
Arrested132+[4]
UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment view of Royce Hall from the central plaza on April 30th, 2024

On April 25, 2024, an occupation protest began at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to protest the administration's investments in Israel. The occupation, self-titled as the 'Palestine Solidarity Encampment',[5] was a part of pro-Palestine protests on university campuses campaigning for divestment from Israel.[6] The encampment was attacked multiple times by counter protestors, leading to clashes.[7] On May 2, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) raided and dismantled the encampment, arresting the protestors and ending the occupation.[4]

Background

On April 17, pro-Palestinian protestors at Columbia University began an occupation protest on its campus to protest Columbia's investments in Israel amid the Israel–Hamas war. The protest, as well as its forced dismantling (when university president Minouche Shafik authorized the New York City Police Department to storm the campus and conduct mass arrests) sparked a series of nationwide protests and encampments for divestment.[8]

UCLA has associations with organizations that invest in Israeli manufacturing companies.[9] UCLA also has investments in BlackRock, which does business in Israel and has holdings in weapon manufacturing companies.[6]

Timeline

April 25

On April 25, students and faculty set up the encampment. They released a list of demands, including UCLA’s divestment from companies that profit off the Israel-Hamas War, a disclosure of where the UC system is investing tuition money, the UC system to cut ties with city police departments who police student activism, an end to academic collaboration with institutions that are profiting and collaborating with Israel, and an immediate and permanent ceasefire.[10]

Protestors erected wooden barricades and displayed signs that included slogans such as "UCLA says Free Palestine" and "UC has blood on it's hands." The 'Palestine Solidarity Encampment' group was set up, which includes the UC Divest Coalition, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace. IfNotNow was also present at the protests.[11] The group posted online a list of demands for the administration, which includes divestment from Israel, calling for a ceasefire, and an academic boycott of Israel.[12]

Members of pro-Israel groups included the Israeli American Council and United Jewish Coalition and other protestors in support of Israel surrounded the encampment.[12][13] Some minor skirmishes between protestors were reported.[14]

April 26–29

On April 26, the administration released a statement saying that it prioritized the safety of students and minimizing disruption, but also that it supported free expression on campus and was therefore not requesting law enforcement at that time.[15] UCLA police patrolled the perimeter of the encampment.[16] Some Israeli and Jewish students said they felt uncomfortable. Pro-Palestinian protestors requested UCLA to not send in police.[14] On April 27, pro-Israel counter-protestors raised more than $50,000 in three hours on GoFundMe to fund a screen and loudspeaker.[17] Jessica Seinfeld, the wife of American comedian Jerry Seinfeld also posted on her social media account on Instagram that she had donated $5,000 to the counter-protestors.[18]

Faculty members holding a banner as they support the student protestors inside the encampment

On April 28, the administration created a physical barrier to separate dueling protestors. Later in the day, demonstrators broke through and a confrontation ensued. It was unclear what side broke through the barrier, and the administration condemned the violence.[13] Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also clashed with police.[19] Members of the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice held a solidarity demonstration with the pro-Palestinian protestors.[19]

On April 29, faculty organized a walkout in solidarity with the protestors.[20] Pro-Palestinian protestors set up metal barricades and appointed guards to block access to counter-protestors and media.[21] Counter-protestors shouted through microphones and played loud music in front of the encampment early in the day. Later, a group of around 60 counter-protestors tried to breach the encampment, which led to heavy clashes. Security and UC officers with riot gear briefly intervened to separate the protestors.[21] During clashes, counter-protestors released mice at the encampment.[22] In response to the attack, the Council on American–Islamic Relations called on UCLA administration to investigate it as a hate crime.[23]

April 30

A brief altercation between campus security and a disabled man occurred when the man tried to walk through a pathway blocked by the protest. The man said he was aware of the demonstrations, but didn't know that major pathways were blocked.[24] Later in the afternoon, the UCLA Chancellor Gene Block shared a message with the UCLA community addressing the situation, stating that UCLA was increasing security presence on campus, removing barriers established by the encampment, and that the "student conduct process has been initiated, and could lead to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion" for any UCLA faculty, staff or students involved.[25]

Video of a female Jewish student's bleeding head went viral.[26][better source needed] The student was admitted to the ER and is reported to be in stable condition. [27][28] The victim identified herself as Elinor Hess and claimed that she was shoved down when she reached to grab her flag, which fell down, and was kicked and pulled by the hair before she lost consciousness.[29]

In an email to students, UCLA announced the extended closure of Powell Library and Royce Hall from 5:00 pm Tuesday, April 30. The facilities are planned to reopen Monday, May 6. [citation needed]

May 1–2

In the early morning, a pro-Israel group attacked the pro-Palestinian protesters' camp, attempting to breach the barricades surrounding the encampment.[30][31] The attackers, reported to have come from outside of campus, carried Israeli flags and assaulted students with sticks, stones, poles, metal fencing, and pepper spray.[7][32] They played loud audio of a child crying, threw wood and a metal barrier into the camp, and shot fireworks into the encampment.[33][5] The counter-protestors called for a "Second Nakba", referring to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in 1948.[34]

Fifteen people were reported injured, including one who was hospitalized.[1] Student journalists for the Daily Bruin described being targeted by the counter-protestors and were punched, kicked, and beaten.[3] Witnesses said the LAPD intervened after nearly four hours of attacks by the pro-Israel counter-demonstrators.[32] A report found one counter-protest group raised funds through GoFundMe, with Jessica Seinfeld and Bill Ackman donating $5,000 and $10,000, respectively.[35][36] Both the LAPD and the university's hired security faced criticism for not protecting the encamped students.[37]

In the evening, law enforcement in riot gear issued a dispersal order to over a thousand people who had gathered in support of the encampment, stating anyone who refused to leave could face arrest.[38]

Los Angeles Police Department arresting student protestors, May 2 2024

Following the previous night's dispersal order, an estimated 200 students remained on campus.[39] At around 1:30 a.m. on May 2, LAPD officers broke into the encampment but were forced to retreat after they were outnumbered. After an hour, officers of the California Highway Patrol equipped in riot gear arrived at the campus to confront the protesters.[40] Police reportedly fired a stun grenade, surrounded the encampment from all four sides, and began tearing down its walls,[41][42][43] arresting 132 protestors,[4] reportedly including at least one professor.[44] Police were seen firing rubber bullets at the student protestors[45][46] and methodically dismantling the encampment, that was cleared by the morning.[47][48]

Responses

Following the attack on the encampment by Pro-Israel counter-protestors on May 1, California governor Gavin Newsom stated, "The limited and delayed campus law enforcement response at UCLA last night was unacceptable — and it demands answers".[49][50] Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass released a statement saying police had responded to a request from UCLA administration,[32] later describing the violence as "abhorrent".[51] Following the police storming of the encampment, U.S. president Biden said he supported law enforcement, stating, "We’re a civil society and order must prevail".[52]

At UCLA

California Highway Patrol officers fencing off the Quad, May 2, 2024

In a statement, the protesters said, "The life-threatening assault we face tonight is nothing less than a horrifying, despicable act of terror. Law enforcement simply stood at the edge of the lawn and refused to budge as we screamed for their help."[53] One student speaking to CNN stated, "The police the university had hired, the private security guards, stared and watched as this happened".[54] Another student speaking to The Guardian said after being twice hit over the head, he "was left with stitches on his forehead and 14 staples in the back of his head".[51]

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block released a statement denouncing the May 1 conflict, stating "this attack on our students, faculty and community members was utterly unacceptable",[55] describing the counter-protesters who attacked the encampment as "instigators".[51]

Faculty condemned the lack of a response to the counter-protestors, including Ananya Roy, who said, "The word is out they can do this repeatedly and get away with it. I am ashamed of my university.[5] A UCLA professor of Jewish history, David N. Myers, stated that "some of the attackers appeared to be carrying Israeli flags and other pro-Israel symbols", in reference to the violence.[51]

The administration released an email statement saying that they were "sickened" by the violence and that they called law enforcement to help control the situation. UCLA cancelled classes and alerted students that there would be "law enforcement presence stationed throughout campus."[56] Remote instruction was announced for Thursday and Friday classes.[57] Faculty members of the History Department released a statement condemning the violent attacks on the students and called for the UCLA Chancellor as well as the UC President to be held accountable for their inaction.[58] The Faculty for Justice in Palestine chapter at UCLA called for a labor strike on May 2, 2024. [59] UAW Local 4811, the union representing over 48,000 academic workers at the 11 UC campuses announced that it would hold a strike authorization vote within a week in response to the violence against students at UCLA. [60]

Gallery

Images from the police action at the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on May 1, 2024
  • Students in the encampment the day before the mob attack
    Students in the encampment the day before the mob attack
  • Students resisting LAPD
    Students resisting LAPD
  • Police Staging at UCLA
    Police Staging at UCLA
  • More LAPD members arriving on campus
    More LAPD members arriving on campus
  • Faculty members supporting the students at the Encampment
    Faculty members supporting the students at the Encampment

See also

References

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External links

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