On Wednesday, a group of protesters gathered on the campus of UCLA to protest against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. The encampment was set up near the university’s basketball arena and was initially peaceful. However, tensions escalated when pro-Israel supporters began to tear down the barriers that separated the two groups.
The situation deteriorated rapidly as protesters began to use makeshift weapons like sticks, traffic cones, and planks of wood to attack each other. Videos showed protesters shooting fireworks at the encampment and spraying chemicals in people’s faces. Some protesters even attacked individuals, sometimes in groups.
As the violence continued, UCLA officials declared the encampment illegal and called for help from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The police arrived on the scene around 1 a.m., but initially stood back about 300 meters from the area without intervening. However, they eventually advanced toward the encampment around 2:42 a.m., dispersing protesters and calming the violence.
UCLA President Gene Block condemned the attackers and criticized the delayed response by campus law enforcement. Jewish and Muslim organizations also condemned the attacks. Fifteen people were reportedly injured, leading to warnings for pro-Palestinian protesters to leave the encampment or face arrest. By Thursday morning, the police had dismantled the encampment and arrested over 200 people.
The incident sparked backlash and calls for accountability from various groups and individuals. Hussam Iloush, from the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Los Angeles office, called for an investigation into the police’s lack of response. The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles accused UCLA officials of creating an unsafe environment