UCLA declares unlawful assembly, poised to clear pro-Palestinian camp

Less than twenty-four hours after a violent attack on a pro-Palestinian camp at UCLA, authorities appeared poised to shut down the encampment by declaring an unlawful assembly.

The move comes after UCLA Chancellor Gene Block announced Tuesday the university’s intentions. UC has generally taken a lighter touch in handling protests than USC, Columbia and other campuses that have called in police, who have arrested hundreds of students.

In a statement earlier in the day, University of California President Michael V. Drake said he “fully” supported UCLA’s action. UC must be “as flexible as it can” in matters of free speech, he said, but must act in cases where student learning and expression are blocked, university functions disrupted and safety threatened.

On Wednesday evening, students lined up arm in arm in an effort to prevent law enforcement from getting through to the encampment.

Down the hill from the tents, more than two dozen vehicles from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department lined up. Officers in riot gear faced the students.

“They won’t arrest you before giving a dispersal order,” one student called out to the crowd.

“If you don’t want to be arrested, don’t stand in the front,” another student organizer shouted.

In recent weeks, UCLA, like other universities across the country, has emerged as a hotbed of pro-Palestinian activism.

Students, faculty and staff have erected make-shift camps and demanded an end to Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip and that their universities divest from companies that sell weapons or services to the Israel.

The demonstration at UCLA had been relatively mild, compared to other campuses, until just before midnight on Tuesday.

That’s when a large group of pro-Israel counter demonstrators wearing black outfits and white masks arrived on campus and tried to tear down the barricades surrounding the encampment.

People inside the camp, some holding lumber and wearing goggles and helmets, rallied to defend the site’s perimeter.

Over several hours, counterdemonstrators hurled objects, including wood and a metal barrier, at the camp and those inside. Fights repeatedly broke out. Some tried to force their way into the camp, and the pro-Palestinian side used pepper spray to defend themselves. Fireworks were also launched into the camp.

The attack went uncountered for three hours, until dozens of officers from the California Highway Patrol, LAPD and other agencies arrived and restored order. The slow response sparked criticism and calls for investigations.