(NewsWorthy.news) – Violence broke out at Pro-Palestine protests at the University of California, Los Angeles as tensions between opposing groups escalated.
Police arrived at the scene with riot equipment and face shields to restore order at the chaotic protests. Video footage circulating online showed chairs being thrown and people being beaten with weapons. Senior UCLA official Mary Osako stated that the university called the police for support due to the “horrific violence”. The chaos continued for two hours until law enforcement arrived at the campus to intervene.
The LAPD was criticized for its slow response to the violence on the campus. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom called the delays unacceptable. The chaotic violence was reportedly triggered when a Pro-Israel group assaulted students protesting against the Israeli regime. An organization involved with the Palestinian solidarity encampment, UC Divest at LA, claimed that law enforcement officers stood at the edge of the lawn as students were assaulted. Security forces hired by the university hid in nearby buildings as the situation worsened.
Video footage showed a masked pro-Israeli group dressed in black approaching the campus and trying to tear down the barriers around the encampment. As activists rallied to defend their encampment, counter-demonstrators reportedly tossed firecrackers, tear gas, water bottles and a scooter. UCLA classes on May 1 were canceled and in the early hours of the morning on May 2 police entered Dickson Court to remove the barricade and take down tents. One protester told reporters that the violence the activists faced was unprecedented, stressing that the Pro-Israel counter-protesters struck first.
Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the assault on the protesters “abhorrent”. Former LA City Council member and retired police officer Dennis Zine suggested that any bad handling of the protest was down to the UCLA’s police officers, who have primary responsibility to act in such scenarios and turn to the LAPD for backup if necessary. One law student at the university, Logan Cyr, commented on how divisive the protests over Gaza had become. Another law student, Noah, said the campus resembled a battle and compared it to the January 6 Capitol riot. Meghna Nair, another UCLA student, saw the masked group approach the protesters and expected trouble. She said the Pro-Palestine protesters were mostly peaceful and that it was “beautiful” to see so many young protesters united. She slated the police for being slow to act and for leaving the protesters to fend for themselves.
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