Students at the University of California, Los Angeles, organized a pro-Palestinian protest on campus while Chancellor Gene D. Block was testifying before lawmakers in Washington about his response to a previous encampment. The demonstrators formed a barricade at the Kerckhoff Patio, but fled when police arrived, with some moving to a nearby building for a sit-in. U.C.L.A. warned students they would be arrested if they did not leave, and called in officers from the Los Angeles and Santa Monica police departments, who arrived in riot gear. Several arrests were made as officers pushed protesters away with batons.
University officials stated that the demonstrators were disrupting campus operations by barricading the patio area, and warned of arrest and disciplinary action for those who did not disperse. After the encampment was cleared, around 300 protesters gathered outside Murphy Hall chanting “Free Palestine” and calling for divestment from companies supporting Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The Students for Justice in Palestine group criticized a congressional hearing on allegations of antisemitism, describing it as an attempt to censor pro-Palestinian movements and conflate them with antisemitism.
The Students for Justice in Palestine group called for support at the protest and labeled it “Encampment 2.0,” accusing the hearing of being political theater and attempting to silence pro-Palestinian voices. The group condemned what it described as a “McCarthyist” effort to censor protesters and restrict calls for Palestinian liberation. Chancellor Block was among university leaders testifying before a House committee on antisemitism on campuses, facing criticism for not clearing the encampment in April sooner and failing to protect students from pro-Israel counterprotesters. Police later cleared the encampment, arresting over 200 pro-Palestinian protesters.
The new protest at U.C.L.A. was met with a heavy police presence, with officers wearing riot gear and wielding batons to disperse the demonstrators. The university took a hard line in response to the protest, warning of arrests and disciplinary action for those who did not comply. Students outside of the encampment showed solidarity by gathering outside Murphy Hall and chanting slogans in support of Palestine, advocating for divestment from companies deemed to support Israel’s military actions. The demonstration highlighted ongoing tensions on campus surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and free speech rights.
As the protest unfolded, tensions escalated between the demonstrators and law enforcement, resulting in some minor skirmishes as officers pushed protesters away from the barricaded area. The Students for Justice in Palestine group mobilized support for the protest and criticized the congressional hearing on antisemitism, characterizing it as an attempt to stifle pro-Palestinian activism. The group highlighted the importance of supporting Palestinian liberation and condemned efforts to censor and suppress dissenting voices on campus. The protest at U.C.L.A. underscored the ongoing debate surrounding free speech, activism, and political discourse in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
