Pro-Palestinian protesters set up a new encampment on the UCLA campus after their initial camp was violently attacked by counterprotesters and dismantled by police. Photos showed at least two tents on the Kerckhoff patio, with private security and police present to prevent the camp from growing. The Los Angeles Police Department issued a citywide tactical alert in case police were called to the campus. Access to certain buildings was blocked, and morning classes were moved online. UCLA’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine asked for support and warned supporters to assess the risks before coming to the camp.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block testified before a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism as the new encampment was set up. Block acknowledged that the university should have been prepared to remove the encampment if the community’s safety was at risk. Supporters of Palestinian solidarity actions believe that antisemitism is being used as a means to suppress student protests and justify violent suppression. Some Jewish students on campus felt intimidated by the initial encampment, with graffiti against Zionism and blocked access. Supporters of the protests aim to end the violence in Gaza and have faced opposition from authorities and the government.
The clashes at UCLA have resulted in over 200 arrests as police dismantled the initial encampment in early May. UCLA Police Chief John Thomas was removed from his post over security failures during the violent clash. The response to pro-Palestinian protests at UCLA and other universities has stirred tensions, with camps being dismantled and protests expanding to other campuses. The academic workers union called for a strike expansion to UCLA and UC Davis, demanding protection for free speech rights and divestment from companies profiting from Israel’s actions in Gaza. Dozens of academic workers are facing criminal charges, disciplinary action, or being barred from campus.
The union’s strike has prompted the university to seek a court injunction, arguing that the strike is illegal and that those arrested or cited for violations must go through the review process. The union wants amnesty for all academic employees, students, and faculty involved in protests and divestment from companies profiting from Israel’s actions. UCLA has faced criticism for its handling of the protests and clashes on campus, with authorities accused of using antisemitism as a means to suppress student protests. Pro-Palestinian activists have remained steadfast in their support for Palestine and their goal to end the violence in Gaza. The tensions at UCLA and other campuses reflect the broader political and social issues surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and the ongoing protests for justice and rights.
