Los Angeles, California – Faculty and staff at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have united in a joint statement demanding justice following a series of violent attacks on students on campus. The 1000 signatories released a letter on May 1, criticizing Chancellor Gene Block’s alleged failure to protect student safety and uphold their rights to free speech during the disturbing incident.
The group of UC faculty and staff outlined a list of demands, stating that the night of April 30, 2024, marked a dark chapter in UCLA’s history. Masked and unmasked agitators reportedly launched a violent assault on students at the Royce Quad encampment, causing chaos and harm. Disturbing footage captured the attackers using pepper spray, fireworks, and other weapons on protestors, leaving lasting trauma in their wake.
During the prolonged siege, UCLA leadership remained inactive for hours as the attacks intensified, with the group accusing them of abandoning the students to fend for themselves. Faculty members criticized the administration’s response, claiming that their messages prior to the incident seemed to embolden the aggressors rather than deter them.
In a show of solidarity, representatives of 800 faculty members and a group of 100 graduate students attempted to deliver the letter to Chancellor Gene Block but were met with resistance by security guards at Murphy Hall. The faculty’s demands included Block’s immediate resignation, a commitment from the next chancellor to uphold the rights of students, faculty, and staff, and transparency regarding UCLA’s investments.
Moreover, the letter called for the dropping of all legal charges and granting full amnesty to those involved in the protests, as well as advocating for an independent investigation into the actions of UCLA leadership and law enforcement during the violent events. The faculty also emphasized the need for a fund to provide support for affected students, including financial assistance and mental healthcare services.
As tensions escalate at UCLA, faculty and staff are contemplating various forms of action, including the possibility of withholding labor until their demands are met. The faculty’s letter comes amidst growing unrest, with the UAW Graduate Student Academic Workers planning a strike vote in response to the recent events. The call for justice reverberates through the university, urging accountability and reform in the wake of the violent attacks.