Los Angeles, California – Tension at the University of California, Los Angeles, escalated over the weekend and into Monday as protests continued following the arrest of multiple people who gathered at a campus parking garage. The unrest stemmed from a previous attack on a pro-Palestine encampment on campus, leading to ongoing investigations.
Despite the arrests and dismantling of the encampment by police in riot gear on Thursday, pro-Palestine protests persisted on Monday at UCLA. Local news reports indicated that 43 protesters were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary, with classes transitioning to remote learning as a result.
Over the weekend, a group of UCLA faculty protested outside the campus’ Hammer Museum, drawing attention to the recent events that disrupted the campus. Outgoing director Ann Philbin was honored at the event, which included notable guests, and made remarks acknowledging the protests and advocating for the right to freedom of expression and protest.
Following the violent attack at UCLA’s Royce Quad, where pro-Palestine demonstrators were targeted, investigations were launched by both the school and the UC system. The response by campus security and local police to the attack sparked further scrutiny, prompting the creation of a new Office of Campus Safety at UCLA.
Amid the aftermath of the attack, attention shifted to a fundraising page organizing counter-protests to the UCLA encampment. The fundraising effort, titled “Fighting antisemitism on campus,” raised significant funds and garnered support from notable figures, sparking discussions surrounding affiliations and motivations behind the counter-protests.
The ongoing developments at UCLA have sparked online investigations to identify the individuals involved in the attack and the counter-protests. As the community grapples with the aftermath of the unrest, discussions surrounding freedom of expression, protest rights, and campus safety continue to unfold. The situation remains fluid as stakeholders navigate the complex dynamics at play in the UCLA campus protests.