A peaceful student protest at UCLA took a violent turn late at night. Here are the key points:
- The pro-Palestinian student group had set up a camp on campus since Thursday
- They were protesting and demanding the university divest from Israeli military companies
- Counter-protesters repeatedly disrupted and harassed the camp over several days
- On Thursday night, the clashing sides threw objects, fireworks, and tear gas at each other
- Police were called in to break up the violent confrontations on campus
After days of rising tensions, a calm UCLA student protest erupted into chaos and violence. But what exactly happened?
Pro-Palestinian Student Protest Begins
On Thursday morning, a UCLA student group called Students for Justice in Palestine set up a protest camp on the central campus quad. Their main goal was to pressure the university to stop investing money in companies associated with the Israeli military.
The pro-Palestinian protesters held rallies, speeches, and chants at their tent encampment for the first few days. They aimed to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in Gaza through peaceful demonstrations.
Counter-Protesters Escalate Tensions
However, from the first night, opposing groups of counter-protesters began disrupting and harassing the camp. Over 100 counter-protesters would surround the tents at night, shouting, blasting music, and keeping the pro-Palestinian students awake.
Each subsequent evening saw more significant numbers of counter-protesters and more aggressive tactics. On some nights, they tried to breach the camp’s perimeter and were held back by security guards. Objects like water bottles and scooters were thrown towards the protesting students.
Violence Erupts on Thursday Night
Tensions reached a boiling point on Thursday evening around 11 pm. A massive group of counter-protesters descended on the quad, firing fireworks and tear gas into the heart of the pro-Palestinian encampment.
The two violently clashing sides stood separated only by a line of security barriers. When the hired security guards couldn’t safely keep them apart any longer, they pulled back – allowing the groups to confront each other directly.
For around 30 minutes, terrifying scenes of people throwing objects and attacking with sticks played out across the campus. The Los Angeles Police Department was called in to regain control.
Harsh University Response
Earlier that day, UCLA leaders had condemned the pro-Palestinian protest after being summoned to Congress over the issue. They officially declared the long-running camp an “unlawful assembly” and threatened academic sanctions against any participating students.
However, the university stopped short of forcibly removing protesters before the violent clashes broke out. Their efforts to shut down the camp through stern warnings further inflamed tensions between the feuding protest groups.
Despite attempting to allow peaceful demonstrations, UCLA’s campus descended into a chaotic battleground by Thursday night. The concerns of both sides ultimately escalated into a dangerous altercation that required police intervention to defuse.
In the aftermath, tough questions remain about how the university can better facilitate open discourse while preventing violence between passionately divided student groups. What steps should UCLA take to ensure peaceful protests and counter-protests in the future?