Los Angeles, California – The office of Governor Gavin Newsom has criticized the police response to violent clashes on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The confrontation occurred between a masked pro-Israeli group and pro-Palestinian students before law enforcement intervened.
According to a spokesperson for Governor Newsom, the delayed and limited police action during the violence was deemed unacceptable. The campus was flooded with hundreds of police officers early Wednesday morning, following more than two hours of unrest.
State officials and university leaders swiftly deployed security personnel to the tent camp on Dickson Plaza as soon as the clashes erupted. However, eyewitnesses at the scene reported that law enforcement did not respond promptly to calls for assistance.
In a statement, a group involved in the encampment, UC Divest at LA, claimed that law enforcement remained passive at the scene, failing to intervene despite pleas for help. The BBC reached out to both UCLA and the LAPD for their response to the incident.
The situation escalated as a large pro-Israeli group arrived on campus late Tuesday, clad in black outfits and white masks, attempting to dismantle barriers. Pro-Palestinian campers, some equipped with protective gear, rallied to defend their space, leading to a violent confrontation. Dylan Winward, a reporter for the Daily Bruin student newspaper, detailed how counter-demonstrators hurled objects like fireworks, scooters, water bottles, and tear gas.
Following the clashes, UCLA declared the pro-Palestinian encampment near Royce Hall as an illegal gathering. As dawn broke on Wednesday, protesters began dispersing, and law enforcement eventually regained control of the situation. The extent of police intervention in terms of arrests remains unclear.