Protesters violently clash at UCLA, encampment deemed illegal

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: New York Times
1 May 2024 13:12
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The university's chancellor, Gene Block, calls the strategy of protesters entering the campus in his statement “shocking and shameful” and claims that protesters who engaged in such behavior could be suspended or expelled.

A Palestinian flag is placed over a university banner near an encampment to protest the Israel-Hamas war on the UCLA campus Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP)

On Monday night, 60 pro-"Israel" demonstrators tried barging into the pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA, starting a fight after pro-"Israel" demonstrators threw fireworks at the encampment.

For the past few days, pro-"Israel" demonstrators have been waving Israeli flags, speaking through megaphones, playing music, and holding up images of the Israeli captives.

After hurling insults at him, a Zionist mob brutally beat up a pro-#Palestine protester at #UCLA amid fierce clashes at the campus.

Unlike New York, where the NYPD headed to #ColumbiaUniversity to disband the encampment in huge numbers, the #LAPD's response was very late,… pic.twitter.com/53Nb7jVkuQ
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 1, 2024

Tactics of 'cowards'

In a first on Tuesday, the pro-Palestinian encampment was declared illegal by officials at UCLA who warned protesters of consequences if they did not leave.

After the encampment was set up at Royce Hall, officials did not intervene, saying that it was to support the freedom of speech, but it was not long until pro-"Israel" groups began harassing the protesters.

The university's chancellor, Gene Block, called the strategy of protesters entering the campus in his statement "shocking and shameful" and claimed that protesters who engaged in such behavior could be suspended or expelled.

Violent clashes have erupted at #UCLA after pro-Zionist individuals launched fireworks and projectiles at the pro-#Palestine encampment on the campus.

It's worth noting that #LAPD is seen nowhere near the scene, failing to protect the protesters.#StudentsForGaza… pic.twitter.com/91zKSlv7Ru
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 1, 2024

"UCLA supports peaceful protest, but not activism that harms our ability to carry out our academic mission and makes people in our community feel bullied, threatened, and afraid,” Block said, adding, "These incidents have put many on our campus, especially our Jewish students, in a state of anxiety and fear."

UCLA's statement 'an intimidation tactic'

Meanwhile, a statement by the UCLA Palestinian Solidarity Encampment, consisting of students, faculty, and community members, labeled the institution's stance a “cowardly intimidation tactic” and affirmed it is standing its ground.

"This repression tactic is a continuation of a long history of attempts to shut down student activism and silence pro-Palestinian voices," the group said, noting, "We will not leave. We will remain here until our demands are met."

Kaia Shah, a researcher, and recent UCLA graduate, said the "actions and behavior of these counterprotesters is indicative of the treatment of the people on the ground in Gaza," noting, "What this has done to the people in our encampment is made them even more passionate about our cause."

Brown U. considers divesting from 'Israel' for encampment removal

This comes after it has been confirmed that Brown University reached a deal with students to consider divesting from "Israel" in exchange for ending the encampment for Gaza on campus.

This marks the first major move by an elite American university amid increasing Gaza Solidarity Encampments around the US on college campuses.

Brown President Christina Paxson said that students agreed to end the protest and clear the location by 5:00 pm local time on Tuesday, refraining "from further actions that would violate Brown's conduct code through the end of the academic year."

In exchange for that, "five students will be invited to meet with five members of the Corporation of Brown University in May to present their arguments to divest Brown's endowment from 'companies enabling and profiting from the genocide in Gaza'."