The UCLA campus ignited into a powder keg of tension on Thursday morning as hundreds of helmeted police officers descended upon a pro-Palestinian protest camp, dismantling it in a pre-dawn raid. This forceful action followed a night of violence that erupted between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and pro-Israeli counter-protesters.
Live footage captured the dramatic scenes of the pre-dawn raid. Officers clad in riot gear dismantled barricades and apprehended those who refused to disperse. Some protesters used makeshift shields and umbrellas while chanting slogans and directing bright lights at police lines. Others complied with orders and were escorted away with their hands raised.
The forceful eviction followed a tense standoff that stretched through the night. Police had encircled the encampment on Wednesday evening, which reportedly housed between 300 and 500 protesters. Authorities used loudspeakers to urge demonstrators to disperse, but a group of Los Angeles police officers who initially entered the camp were forced to retreat due to the sheer number of protesters. Reinforcements later arrived, leading to the early morning raid.
The police action sparked outrage among some protesters who felt it contrasted sharply with the delayed response to the previous night’s violence. Protesters reported being attacked with fireworks, bats, and pepper spray, raising questions about the limited police intervention at the time.
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This incident is emblematic of a nationwide surge in student activism fuelled by the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Students across the country have been calling for a ceasefire and urging schools to divest from companies that support the Israeli government. Similar clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups have erupted on numerous campuses, prompting police intervention in many cases.
Counter-protesters have accused the demonstrations of fostering anti-Jewish hatred. Pro-Palestinian groups, including Jews who oppose Israeli actions, reject this label, emphasizing their right to criticize Israeli policies and advocate for human rights. The issue has become a political firestorm in the lead-up to the US presidential election, with Republicans criticising universities for tolerating antisemitism, while the pro-Palestinian side underscores their right to free speech.
This episode marks one of the largest student activist movements in the US since the 2020 anti-racism protests. The UCLA raid echoes similar actions at other institutions. In New York City, police arrested approximately 300 pro-Palestinian activists at Columbia University and dismantled a tent city there. Additionally, 90 protesters were arrested at Dartmouth University in New Hampshire. Many universities, grappling with heightened tensions, have resorted to shutting down campuses amidst the ongoing conflicts.
