Anti-Israel protesters and UCLA police officers clashed on Monday after protesters set up an encampment at the school’s campus. It was the third such encampment at University of California, Los Angeles in the last several weeks.
“The protesters set up tents and barricades on the western end of Dickson Plaza around 3:15 p.m.,” the Daily Bruin reported. “Organizations including Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA previously called on protesters to rally in Bruin Plaza at 2 p.m. before marching around campus.”
Protesters dyed the water of a fountain on campus red to represent the blood of the people they claimed died because of Israel’s military intervention. They also placed fake bodies with red paint on them around the fountain as part of the demonstration.
“Earlier in the day, protesters marched to Murphy Hall carrying fake bloody mummies and body parts while listing the names of Palestinians who have died in the Israel-Hamas war, chanting, ‘We will honor all our martyrs,’” the Daily Bruin reported.
Large skirmish at the UCLA Moore Hall encampment between pro-Palestinian protesters and private campus security. Security threw several punches. Eventually security went inside the building. Outside of building is now much more barricaded. pic.twitter.com/H38Okm0Tan
— acatwithnews (@ACatWithNews) June 11, 2024
The protest grew in violence later in the day after the protesters ignored orders by the police to clear the encampment. The police gave multiple warnings for the crowd to disperse, ABC7 reported.
“BREAKING: Arrests underway as the mob is turning more aggressive towards university police,” ABC7 reporter Chris Cristi posted on X.
Numerous arrests were made after the clash. The University of California had to use pepper bullets against the anti-Israel demonstrators, according to reports. At least one security officer was reportedly injured during the clash.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the attempted encampment was organized by the Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA. Several of the university’s faculty members also participated in the protest, holding banners and walking with the demonstrators during the demonstrations.
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UCLA professor Yogita Goyal disagreed with the police presence on campus and claimed it was unnecessary to clear the encampment and that those participating in the protests, which Goyal labeled as students, should have the right to express their views.
“UCLA leadership should be out here and should be allowing our students to express their political views,” Goyal told the Los Angeles Times.