In the early hours of Thursday, hundreds of police officers clad in riot gear forcefully cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The operation, which involved the dismantling of makeshift barriers and the use of flash bangs and flares, occurred following an order for over 1,000 protesters to vacate the area.
Reports indicate that more than 100 demonstrators were detained during the police raid. The encampment had been established on campus a week prior as part of a series of student-organized pro-Palestinian rallies and encampments that began at Columbia University in New York City on April 17 and spread to over two dozen states and at least six other countries.
Amid the escalating tensions, President Joe Biden addressed the wave of protests from the White House, urging participants to uphold the rule of law and emphasizing that violent protest is not protected under civil society. He condemned acts such as vandalism, trespassing, and campus disruptions as unacceptable forms of protest.
The protests, largely advocating for a ceasefire in Israel’s conflict with Hamas, have also called for academic institutions to financially boycott Israel and companies benefiting from the conflict. However, Jewish students have expressed feeling unsafe due to rising reports of antisemitic incidents on campus, prompting calls for university leaders to address the disruptions.
The situation at UCLA intensified when a masked pro-Israeli group clashed with campers on Tuesday night, drawing criticism for the police response. On Wednesday, law enforcement declared the pro-Palestinian gathering an “unlawful assembly” and subsequently moved in to clear the area.
Despite police efforts to disperse the protesters, some demonstrators remained defiant, using makeshift shields and chanting slogans in resistance. Police detained protesters using zip ties and implemented tight security measures around the campus.
While the encampment at UCLA has been dismantled, protests continue at various universities across the country, with some institutions considering proposals on divestment. The dissent among young Americans at universities underscores ongoing debates surrounding the conflict in Gaza, with arrests reported at several campuses in the past 24 hours, including Yale, Dartmouth, and the University of Wisconsin.