LOS ANGELES: Hundreds of police and pro-Palestinian protesters were in a tense stand-off early on Thursday at the University of California, Los Angeles as unrest over Israel’s relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza simmers on US campuses, AFP reported.
Officers in riot gear moved in to start removing some barricades around the protest encampment, CNN footage showed, with several protesters detained.
Flashbangs were employed by police to disperse the crowd, who were chanting “Let them go!”. “This is a peaceful protest, there are no counter-protestors tonight, so to call the police on them is despicable. This city should support them,” LA resident Jack Bedrosian who came along to show support told AFP. The heavy police presence, including personnel from the California Highway Patrol and LAPD, followed criticism of law enforcement’s delayed response to violent clashes late Tuesday night when pro-Israeli protesters attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment.
LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia decried the lack of protection for peaceful student protestors, urging UCLA and city leaders to prioritize the safety of students. In response to the unrest, UCLA announced remote classes for Thursday and Friday, cautioning students to avoid the protest area. “There is a large police presence from multiple law enforcement agencies after outside mobs attacked peaceful student protestors last night with no one protecting them,” LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia posted on social media site X from the campus earlier. “Students now face the police. We urge UCLA & City leaders to protect students, not do more harm.”
Despite the necessity of maintaining safety on campus, some students expressed dismay at the sight of helmeted officers, reflecting on the evolving dynamics of security measures within academic settings.
The wave of unrest on US campuses mirrors the global outcry over the soaring death toll in Gaza, with demonstrations erupting at over 30 universities across the US. Police intervention has been reported at various institutions, including the University of Texas, Fordham University, and Columbia University, where mass arrests occurred.
At Columbia and the City University of New York (CUNY), students denounced alleged police brutality, citing injuries sustained during clashes. Police Commissioner Edward Caban confirmed approximately 300 arrests at both institutions. “We were assaulted, brutally arrested. And I was held for up to six hours before being released, pretty banged up, got stomped on, got cut up,” one CUNY student who gave his name only as Jose told AFP.
The protests pose a challenge for university administrators tasked with balancing free speech rights and addressing concerns of criminal activity and hate speech. The Biden administration has affirmed Americans’ right to peaceful protest while attempting to address escalating tensions.
Former President Donald Trump voiced support for the police response, urging college presidents to dismantle encampments and restore normalcy to campuses.
Amidst the demonstrations, students at Columbia continued to rally for the Palestinian cause, blocking access to key campus facilities with graffiti advocating for a “Free Gaza.”
Since October 7, Israel’s relentless bombardment campaign has killed more than 34,500 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
