Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP / Getty Images
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Violence erupted and raged through the early morning hours Wednesday as counter-protesters descended on a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA, marking the worst clashes since the occupation began a week ago.
The situation worsened late Tuesday night when a group of pro-Israeli counter-protesters attacked the camp. There were reports of fireworks being tossed into or fired toward the encampment, and counter-protesters tore away parts of the wooden barricades surrounding the pro-Palestinian group.
People were seen attacking others with sticks, and the violence continued seemingly unchecked by police, with counter-protesters doing their best to invade the encampment. Pepper spray was also reportedly deployed, although it was unclear by whom.
Police in riot gear eventually moved in around 3 a.m. and eventually managed to separate the warring factions and restore order. It was unclear if there were any arrests.
"The violence unfolding this evening at UCLA is absolutely abhorrent and inexcusable. LAPD has arrived on campus," Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement released early Wednesday.
City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, who represents the Fifth District, posted on social media the situation on UCLA's campus is "out of control."
"Everyone has a right to free speech and protest, but the situation on UCLA's campus is out of control and is no longer safe. I'm grateful to LAPD and Mayor Bass for stepping in to ensure the safety of everyone on campus," she posted on social media.
Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on social media his office is closely monitoring the situation at UCLA.
"Law enforcement leaders are in contact this evening and resources are being mobilized," Newson posted.
Security had been ramped up at UCLA Tuesday following earlier clashes that occurred Monday night and Tuesday morning between the pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters. The university on Tuesday also warned participants in the expanding encampment on campus that the gathering is unlawful and could lead to disciplinary action for students.
The warning also noted that people who are unaffiliated with the university but taking part in the encampment "violates the law" and could lead to misdemeanor charges.
University officials also announced that Royce Hall near the encampment will remain closed until Friday, and students were told to check with their instructors about new locations for classes that normally meet in that building. Powell Library, meanwhile, will remain closed until Monday.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block made his first public comments about the protests Tuesday, saying most demonstrators taking part in protests have been "peaceful in their activism."
"But the tactics of others have frankly been shocking and shameful," Block said. "We have seen instances of violence completely at odds with our values as an institution dedicated to respect and mutual understanding. In other cases, students on their way to class have been physically blocked from accessing parts of the campus.
"UCLA supports peaceful protest, but not activism that harms our ability to carry out our academic mission and makes people in our community feel bullied, threatened and afraid. These incidents have put many on our campus, especially our Jewish students, in a state of anxiety and fear."
Block, echoing an earlier message from the university, said the university has "significantly increased our security presence in the area," including law enforcement, safety personnel and student affairs "mitigators."
"We have also engaged law enforcement to investigate the recent acts of violence," Block said. "The barriers that demonstrators used to block access to buildings have been removed, and we have staff located around Royce Quad to help ensure that they will not go up again. With regard to these incidents, our student conduct process has been initiated, and could lead to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion."
He concluded: "I recognize that the suffering in the Middle East has had a profound impact on our campus, and we continue to hope for a peaceful resolution. While Bruins hold a variety of perspectives on this conflict, we must all protect the wellbeing of our peers and maintain an environment safe for learning. This is a commitment I call on our community to uphold as we navigate the weeks ahead."
The warning letter that was distributed in the encampment Tuesday said that non-university-affiliated people must leave the encampment or face possible misdemeanor charges, noting that "no masking or camping is allowed."
Students and staff taking part in the encampment were also asked to leave the area, noting that students could face disciplinary actions such as interim suspensions that could lead to dismissal.
University of California system President Dr. Michael V. Drake issued a statement Tuesday saying he "fully" supported UCLA informing participants in the encampment that the encampment is unlawful and violates university policy.
"The University of California must be as flexible as it can involving matters of free expression, including expression of viewpoints that some find deeply offensive," Drake said. "But when that expression blocks the ability of students to learn or to express their own viewpoints, when it meaningfully disrupts the functioning of the university, or when it threatens the safety of students, or anyone else, we must act.
"There are countless ways to protest lawfully, and the University of California campuses will work with students, faculty and staff to make space available and do all we can to protect these protests and demonstrations. But disruptive unlawful protests that violate the rights of our fellow citizens are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated."
Mary Osako, vice chancellor of UCLA Strategic Communications, said in a statement Tuesday the university is investigating alleged actions by campus protesters that blocked a student's ability to attend class on Monday, calling such actions "abhorrent" and warning that they "could lead to severe disciplinary action including expulsion or suspension."
Barriers that were used by demonstrators to block the student's access "have been removed and we have staff located around Royce Quad to help ensure that they will not go up again," Osako said. "We have also engaged law enforcement to investigate.
"While the demonstration remains largely peaceful, our campus must remain a place where we treat one another with respect and recognize our shared humanity -- not a place where we devolve into violence and bullying," Osako said.
Earlier in the day Tuesday, a protester was detained by campus police after installing a Palestinian flag atop construction scaffolding outside Powell Library adjacent to the encampment. That person was later released.
The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Monday called on UCLA officials to protect participants in the encampment, pointing to a video that was posted online appearing to show someone releasing a backpack filled with mice into the encampment. According to a social media post, campus security was able to gather and remove the mice.
Organizers of UCLA's Palestine Solidarity Encampment, similar to their counterparts at USC, issued a list of demands calling for divestment of all University of California and UCLA Foundation funds from companies tied to Israel, along with a demand that the university call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and an academic boycott by UC against Israeli universities, including a suspension of study-abroad programs.
The University of California issued a statement Friday noting that the university has "consistently opposed calls for boycott against and divestment from Israel. While the University affirms the right of our community members to express diverse viewpoints, a boycott of this sort impinges on the academic freedom of our students and faculty and the unfettered exchange of ideas on our campuses.
"UC tuition and fees are the primary funding sources for the University's core operations. None of these funds are used for investment purposes," the statement continued.
Protest encampments also emerged Monday at UC Irvine and UC Riverside.