A violent riot broke out at UCLA on Tuesday night, when a group of protesters tore down the barriers put in place to separate pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Earlier that day, UCLA officials had declared the encampment illegal and hired security personnel to enforce it. However, they remained silent about their response to the violence that ensued.
Videos captured protesters firing fireworks at the encampment and spraying chemicals in people’s faces. Some protesters attacked individuals with makeshift weapons like sticks, traffic cones, and planks of wood. Protesters inside the encampment shouted “Hold the line!” as they fought with those trying to destroy barriers.
At around 1 a.m., UCLA officials called for help from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Officers arrived immediately, and other law enforcement agencies also joined in. Initially, police stood back about 300 meters from the area without intervening. However, they eventually advanced toward the encampment at 2:42 a.m., dispersing protesters and calming the violence.
On Wednesday, UCLA President Gene Block condemned the attackers and criticized campus law enforcement for their delayed response. Jewish and Muslim organizations also condemned the attacks, with fifteen people reportedly injured leading to warnings for pro-Palestinian protesters to leave or face arrest by Thursday morning. The police had dismantled the encampment by then and arrested over 200 people.
Hussam Iloush from Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Los Angeles office called for an investigation into why police did not respond earlier while Jewish Federation of Los Angeles accused UCLA officials of creating an unsafe environment on campus. The incident sparked backlash and calls for accountability from various groups and individuals.[/