UCLA Protesters Arrested, Encampment Cleared At USC, Protests Spread
LOS ANGELES, CA — Turmoil from Israel-Palestine war protests continued to roil Southland campuses Monday as dozens of protesters were arrested at UCLA, demonstrator encampments were dismantled at USC and UCLA, and a new encampment sprang up at Pomona College. With commencement ceremonies set to begin as early as this week at USC, pressure to contain the sometimes violent demonstrations reached a new level. At Pomona College, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment on and around the Pomona College commencement stage Monday, vowing to block graduation activities unless their demands are met.At UCLA, remote classes were scheduled for the remainder of the week as protests gripped the campus in the final month of the quarter. At each of the campuses, police have maintained a heavy presence since violence erupted last week. Protesters are calling on university officials to divest from Israeli-tied companies and weapons manufacturers. The protests mirror demonstrations across the nation and the state of California, leading to more than 100 arrests at UC schools on Monday while imperiling commencement ceremonies. Protesters Arrested At UCLA Despite an effort to return to normalcy following unrest and violence that marred the campus last week centered around a now-dismantled pro-Palestinian encampment, UCLA remained in the grips of protest Monday, prompting a return to remote classes for the rest of the week.UCLA had announced plans to return to in-person instruction Monday following two days of remote learning on Thursday and Friday in the aftermath of the protests and police action to dismantle the encampment.But it quickly became apparent that normalcy was not in the cards.Police arrested 44 pro-Palestinian protesters at a UCLA parking structure Monday just days after authorities were roundly criticized for standing down while a pro-Israel mob violently attacked the protestors. The demonstrators Monday claimed the arrests are a form of intimidation targeting peaceful protesters.A demonstrator is arrested on the UCLA campus Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)The demonstrators were arrested and loaded into a sheriff's department bus to be taken to a jail for processing on suspicion of what police called conspiracy to commit burglary.Among those arrested were a pair of journalists — William Gude and Sean Beckner-Carmitchel — prompting quick criticism from media organizations. Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, president of the Society of Professional Journalists, wrote on X, "Both campus media journalists and external journalists must be allowed to cover these protests without law enforcement interference."She called the arrests of the journalists "a clear violation of both the First Amendment" and California law.Organizers of the protests at UCLA posted on social media Monday morning that the early morning arrests were illegal and "a continuation of the consistent repression of student activism and the increase of militarization of universities." The group said protesters "refuse to conduct business as usual" until the university meets demands for divestment from Israel and Israeli-tied businesses.Meanwhile, 50 or more protesters gathered around 7 a.m. inside the campus' Moore Hall, staging an apparent sit-in. KCAL9 reported that the crowd had dispersed from the building by 9 a.m., but reports of other unauthorized gatherings began materializing in other buildings.By late-morning, a crowd of more than 100 people marched through the campus, pausing for a rally outside the student activity center.The continued protests prompted the university to send out an alert shortly after 10 a.m. announcing that classes were again being pushed to remote."Law enforcement is stationed around campus to help promote safety and actively monitor conditions," according to the alert. "Student Affairs has staff on campus to support our students. The hospital and health system, other clinical operations, and housing and hospitality facilities remain open. Law School exams will continue as scheduled. UCLA Extension classes scheduled to be held in person in any Westwood or UCLA campus location have been moved to live-online format."Later Monday afternoon, the university announced that "due to ongoing disruption," the campus will remain under limited operations, and classes will remain remote for the rest of the week.On Sunday, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block announced the creation of an Office of Campus Safety to administer policing and emergency management in the aftermath of campus unrest over pro-Palestinian demonstrations.The school came under heavy criticism for its response to violence that broke out at the protest encampment last week, with Gov. Gavin Newsom and other elected officials calling for investigations into the university's reaction, and some critics even calling on Block to resign ahead of his previously announced plan to step down on July 31."In the past week, our campus has been shaken by events that have disturbed this sense of safety and strained trust within our community," Block said in a message to the UCLA community Sunday. "In light of this, both UCLA and the UC Office of the President have committed to a thorough investigation of our security processes. But one thing is already clear: To best protect our community moving forward, urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations."I am therefore taking several actions to significantly alter our campus safety structure. ... Effective immediately, I am moving oversight and management of UCLA PD and the Office of Emergency Management from the Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor to a newly created Office of Campus Safety, whose leader reports directly to me. It is clear that UCLA needs a unit and leader whose sole responsibility is campus safety to guide us through tense times. This organizational structure, which elevates our safety and emergency management operations, has proven to be an effective one at other major universities across the country."Leading the new office as its inaugural associate vice chancellor will be Rick Braziel, who'll bring more than 30 years of public safety service to the job, including five years as chief of police for the city of Sacramento. Braziel has also served as an instructor in community policing and has led reviews of law enforcement agencies and police responses.Block also created a formal advisory group whose members include UC Davis Chief of Police and Coordinator of the Council of UC Chiefs of Police Joe Farrow, professor of psychology and of health policy and management Vickie Mays and UC Office of the President Systemwide Director of Community Safety Jody Stiger."I am confident that AVC Braziel, in partnership with this advisory group, will provide effective new leadership of our safety and emergency management operations," Block said.Police moved in and cleared the weeklong pro-Palestinian encampment early Thursday, arresting 209 people. Most of those arrested were booked on suspicion of unlawful assembly, then released from custody with instructions to appear in court at a later date.No significant injuries to protesters or the hundreds of police officers who took part in the raid were reported. It was unclear how many of them were actually UCLA students.Disputes between protesters at the encampment peaked overnight last Tuesday and early Wednesday, when the pro-Palestinian encampment was attacked by counter-protesters supporting Israel who set of fireworks and allegedly deployed pepper spray or bear repellent. The violence prompted a cancellation of all classed at UCLA last Wednesday."We approached the encampment with the goal of maximizing our community members' ability to make their voices heard on an urgent global issue," Block said in a statement Thursday afternoon. "We had allowed it to remain in place so long as it did not jeopardize Bruins' safety or harm our ability to carry out our mission."But while many of the protesters at the encampment remained peaceful, ultimately, the site became a focal point for serious violence as well as a huge disruption to our campus. Several days of violent clashes between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators put too many Bruins in harm's way and created an environment that was completely unsafe for learning."The clearing of the encampment, however, gave a broader picture of the amount of damage done to the campus. The front of Royce Hall and Powell Library suffered extensive graffiti damage, some of it profane. Piles of garbage were also left behind in the former encampment area.The school's much-criticized response to the violence remained a point of contention this weekend. On Saturday, more than 20 UCLA faculty members and community activists rallied at the Hammer Museum to call for the resignation of Block, the Daily Bruin reported.On May 23, Block is expected to testify before Congress about UCLA's response to antisemitism on the campus and actions to protect Jewish students.Meanwhile, the union that represents campus police officers at the 10 University of California schools blamed UCLA administrators for the delayed response to Tuesday's fights and other violence between counter-protesters and people at the pro-Palestinian encampment.Federated University Police Officers' Association said Saturday that the probe by UC President Michael Drake into the university's "planning, actions and response by law enforcement" must consider the UC's own guidelines for response to campus protests."The written guidelines for roles and responsibilities make clear that senior UC administrators on each campus are solely responsible for the University's response to campus protests; those administrators decide the objective, and campus police are only responsible for tactics in implementing those objectives," FUPOA President Wade Stern said."As such, the UCLA administration owns all the fallout from the response and lack of response to this protest."There was no response Saturday to emails sent to UCLA and Drake's office seeking comment.Gov. Gavin Newsom and other elected officials called for investigations into the university and police response. Observers said the Tuesday night attack was allowed to rage for several hours with little to no police intervention, until officers in riot gear finally moved in around 3 a.m. and restored order.Organizers of the UCLA Palestine Solidarity Encampment, similar to their counterparts at USC, have 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 begin an academic boycott against Israeli universities, including a suspension of study-abroad programs.The UC issued a statement in response 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.USC Commencement Ceremonies To Start Amid Protest TurmoilStudents protesting the war in Gaza abandoned their camp at the University of Southern California early Sunday after being surrounded by police and threatened with arrest.Dozens of Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived about 4 a.m. at USC to assist campus safety officers. The university had warned of arrests on social media and in person. Video showed some protesters packing up and leaving, while officers formed lines to push others away from the camp as it emptied out. The university said there were no reports of any arrests.Graduation preparations were continuing Monday at USC after a pro-Palestinian encampment was cleared by officers with the Los Angeles Police Department and the university's Department of Public Safety, ending a high-profile demonstration that began in April.USC announced Monday that "the University Park Campus is now open to students, faculty, staff, registered guests and known vendors with confirmation of work."The university's various commencement ceremonies -- minus the traditional main stage ceremony that was previously canceled -- will begin on Wednesday and continue through Saturday at various locations around campus.Commencement season has been a bit of a roller-coaster for USC students, given the various protests that have occurred on campus and the establishment of an encampment that was cleared by police early Sunday morning."This morning DPS, with the assistance of the LAPD, removed the occupiers who had rebuilt their illegal encampment in Alumni Park. The operation was peaceful. Campus is opening, students are returning to prepare for finals, and commencement set-up is in full swing," USC President Carol Folt said in a statement released around midday Sunday."Over the last few weeks, the university exercised patience and restraint as we worked to de-escalate a volatile situation. We've spoken to the occupiers daily, issued repeated warnings, and offered opportunities and locations for them to protest lawfully. We've supported their right to express strong opinions and passions for their cause, as always," she continued."Yet when free speech protests devolve into illegal occupations, violating the rights of others, we must draw a line. ... We are in the critical period from the end-of-term quiet study week, through finals and our commencement ceremonies."Despite our efforts to de-escalate, the occupation was spiraling in a dangerous direction over the last several days. Areas of campus were blocked, people walking down Trousdale, our main thoroughfare, were harassed, and iconic Trojan symbols were defaced. In addition, university property was stolen, and commencement structures were dismantled. Residence halls, campus throughfares, and libraries had become places of confrontation. Some finals were disrupted with noise and chanting during mandated quiet periods. Yesterday afternoon, outside agitators jumped the perimeter fencing and assaulted our officers."This had to stop. With no resolution in sight, I requested the LAPD to assist DPS in removing the encampment as peacefully and safely as possible. At 4:10 a.m., an order to disperse was issued, providing the trespassers one last opportunity to leave voluntarily. In 64 minutes, the encampment was abandoned and cleared. The operation was peaceful with no arrests. We will not tolerate illegal encampments of any kind at USC."The encampment had been rebuilt after previously being cleared on April 24, when 93 people were arrested.The USC campus had been relatively calm in the days prior to Sunday's clean-up operation.Last Wednesday, dozens of USC faculty members marched through the campus in support of protesters. That march occurred hours after a virtual meeting between members of the campus Academic Senate and Folt, who was joined by Provost Andrew Guzman.Folt wrote earlier that "the university has initiated disciplinary review processes for individuals who have violated both our policies and the law. We will take any further actions required to maintain campus safety and security, consistent with our legal obligations."The university is legally obligated to ensure that students, faculty, and staff can move freely throughout our campus while pursuing their studies, work, and research. Every part of our campuses, including Alumni Park, must be fully accessible and free from vandalism and harassment."At least 12 student protesters received interim or full suspensions from the university, a media liaison from the "Gaza Solidarity Occupation" told the Daily Trojan, the campus newspaper, on Sunday evening.Several student protesters who are USC Housing residents were told they have until 5 p.m. Monday to pack their items and leave, a student protester who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, told the Daily Trojan.In a statement Monday, USC officials said, "We are unable to discuss disciplinary matters because of student privacy laws and the confidential nature of personnel matters."USC became a focal point of Southland pro-Palestinian protests following its April 15 decision to cancel valedictorian Asna Tabassum's commencement speech in response to complaints about her online posts critics called antisemitic. USC officials insisted the move was solely a security issue, not a political decision.Still, tensions continued to mount -- leading to the mass protest April 24 and attempted occupation of Alumni Park that resulted in the 93 arrests and the clearing of the earlier encampment.The university eventually opted to cancel its May 10 main stage commencement altogether, but vowed to move forward with the usual array of smaller satellite graduation ceremonies for the school's individual colleges.The university announced last week that in lieu of the main stage commencement ceremony, a "Trojan Family Graduate Celebration" will be held at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, featuring "drone shows, fireworks, surprise performances, the Trojan Marching Band and a special gift just for the Class of 2024."Protests Spread To Pomona College Several dozen pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment on and around the Pomona College commencement stage Monday, vowing to remain in place and block graduation activities unless the college commits to divestment from Israeli-tied companies and weapons manufacturers.The encampment cropped up around 5 a.m."Students are prepared to defend the encampment until their demands are met, and call upon the college to heed the overwhelming support for divestment in their community," according to a statement from an organizing group known as Pomona Divest from Apartheid.Pomona College officials issued a statement in response saying, "Our students, faculty, staff and alumni hold a range of viewpoints. Throughout the year, college leaders have offered to meet with student protesters and will continue to do so. We will promote safety for all members of our community and pursue our educational mission, considering the full range of viewpoints."Monday's action came about a month after 19 students were arrested while taking part in a sit-in at the university president's office.In a statement released after that action in early April, Pomona College President G. Gabrielle Starr said some activists on the campus had refused to identify themselves and "proceeded to verbally harass staff, even using a sickening, anti-Black racial slur in addressing an administrator. Starr said an occupation that was established on the campus violated policies, but "as we have expressed in the past, we work with students who are exercising their right to protest unless that protest impedes on the rights of others. In addition, we require all individuals on campus to identify themselves upon request by campus administrators or Campus Safety. This is imperative for the safety of our community, especially when these individuals are masked."In announcing the latest protest action Monday, organizers urged Starr not to engage in what they call "unrelenting repression.""In April, Starr called in 30+ riot police to arrest 20 students, 19 of whom were staging a sit-in at Alexander Hall to protest the college's forceful removal of a mock apartheid wall from Marston Quad," according to the group. "Students are urging the college not to repeat their mistakes. Gabi Starr, do not opt for violence again. Listen to your community. The choice is yours."City News Service, The Associated Press, and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.The article UCLA Protesters Arrested, Encampment Cleared At USC, Protests Spread appeared first on Los Angeles, CA Patch.
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