2024 University of California, Los Angeles pro-Palestinian campus occupation

2024 UCLA pro-Palestinian campus occupation
Part of the April 2024 Israel–Hamas war protests on university campuses in the United States
UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment looking toward Powell Library from Royce Hall on April 30th, 2024
Date	April 25, 2024 – present (4 months and 3 weeks)
Standort	Los Angeles, California, United States
Caused by	Anti-Zionist sentiment Opposition to UCLA's investments in Israel
Goals	UCLA's divestment from Israel UCLA's call for a ceasefire Academic boycott of Israel
Methods	Protests Civil disobedience Picketing Occupation Rioting
Status	Ongoing: Protestors take over multiple buildings and set up encampment on April 25 Counter-protestors mount incursion into encampment on April 30
Parties
Pro-Palestinian groups: Palestine Solidarity Encampment UC Divest Coalition Students for Justice in Palestine Jewish Voice for Peace Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice Pro-Israel groups StandWithUs Israeli-American Council United Jewish Coalition

UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment view of Royce Hall from the central plaza on April 30th, 2024

On April 25, 2024, an occupation protest began at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to protest the administration's investments in Israel. The occupation, self-titled as the 'Palestine Solidarity Encampment', is a part of pro-Palestine protests on university campuses campaigning for divestment from Israel. The pro-Palestinian encampment has been attacked multiple times by counterprotestors, leading to clashes.

Background

On April 17, pro-Palestinian protestors at Columbia University began an occupation protest on its campus to protest Columbia's investments in Israel amid the Israel–Hamas war. The protest, as well as its forced dismantling (when university president Minouche Shafik authorized the New York City Police Department to storm the campus and conduct mass arrests) sparked a series of nationwide protests and encampments for divestment.

UCLA has associations with organizations that invest in Israeli manufacturing companies. UCLA also has investments in BlackRock, which does business in Israel and has holdings in weapon manufacturing companies.

Timeline

April 25

On April 25, students and faculty set up the encampment. They released a list of demands, including UCLA’s divestment from companies that profit off the Israel-Hamas War, a disclosure of where the UC system is investing tuition money, the UC system to cut ties with city police departments who police student activism, an end to academic collaboration with institutions that are profiting and collaborating with Israel, and an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

Protestors erected wooden barricades and displayed signs that included slogans such as "UCLA says Free Palestine" and "UC has blood on it's hands." The 'Palestine Solidarity Encampment' group was set up, which includes the UC Divest Coalition, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace. IfNotNow was also present at the protests. The group posted online a list of demands for the administration, which includes divestment from Israel, calling for a ceasefire, and an academic boycott of Israel.

Members of pro-Israel groups included the Israeli American Council and United Jewish Coalition and other protestors in support of Israel surrounded the encampment. Some minor skirmishes between protestors were reported.

April 26–27

On April 26, the administration released a statement saying that it prioritized the safety of students and minimizing disruption, but also that it supported free expression on campus and was therefore not requesting law enforcement at that time. UCLA police patrolled the perimeter of the encampment. Some Israeli and Jewish students said they felt uncomfortable. Pro-Palestinian protestors requested UCLA to not send in police. On April 27, pro-Israel counter-protestors raised more than $50,000 in three hours on GoFundMe to fund a screen and loudspeaker. Jessica Seinfeld, the wife of American comedian Jerry Seinfeld also posted on her social media account on Instagram that she had donated $5,000 to the counter-protestors.

April 28–29

Faculty members holding a banner as they support the student protestors inside the encampment

On April 28, the administration created a physical barrier to separate dueling protestors. Later in the day, demonstrators broke through and a confrontation ensued. It was unclear what side broke through the barrier, and the administration condemned the violence. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also clashed with police. Members of the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice held a solidarity demonstration with the pro-Palestinian protestors.

On April 29, faculty organized a walkout in solidarity with the protestors. Pro-Palestinian protestors set up metal barricades and appointed guards to block access to counter-protestors and media. Counter-protestors shouted through microphones and played loud music in front of the encampment early in the day. Later, a group of around 60 counter-protestors tried to breach the encampment, which led to heavy clashes. Security and UC officers with riot gear briefly intervened to separate the protestors. During clashes, counter-protestors released mice at the encampment. In response to the attack, the Council on American–Islamic Relations called on UCLA administration to investigate it as a hate crime.

April 30

A brief altercation between campus security and a disabled man occurred when the man tried to walk through a pathway blocked by the protest. The man said he was aware of the demonstrations, but didn't know that major pathways were blocked. Later in the afternoon, the UCLA Chancellor Gene Block shared a message with the UCLA community addressing the situation, stating that UCLA was increasing security presence on campus, removing barriers established by the encampment, and that the "student conduct process has been initiated, and could lead to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion" for any UCLA faculty, staff or students involved.

May 1

Clashes erupted between counter-protestors and students in the early morning as pro-Israeli groups attempted to breach the barricades surrounding the encampment. Several fireworks were fired into the encampment. The administration released an email statement saying that they were "sickened" by the violence and that they have called law enforcement to help control the situation.

In a statement, the encampment protesters said, "The life-threatening assault we face tonight is nothing less than a horrifying, despicable act of terror. Law enforcement simply stood at the edge of the lawn and refused to budge as we screamed for their help." One student speaking to CNN stated, "The police the university had hired, the private security guards, stared and watched as this happened".

Both Reuters and The Guardian reported that pro-Israel protesters, including "people wielding sticks or poles," had attacked the pro-Palestinian protesters' barricade/camp. Al Jazeera reported that "a vigilante pro-Israel mob attacked a solidarity encampment occupied by peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters ... The attackers, carrying Israeli flags, then tried to tear down the pro-Palestinian camp, assaulting students with pepper spray, sticks, stones and metal fencing. [...] The vigilante mob appeared to come from outside the campus." The Los Angeles Times reported that counter-protesters also "threw objects, including wood and a metal barrier, at the camp and those inside, with fights repeatedly breaking out." Four student reporters were assaulted according to the Daily Bruin's own reporting. According, again to the Los Angeles Times, the counter-protesters began chanting “Second Nakba,” referring to the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in 1948.

In reaction, UCLA cancelled classes for the day and alerted students that there would be "law enforcement presence stationed throughout campus." The lack of a true response to the counter-protestors was condemned by some students and faculty, including Ananya Roy, who said, "The word is out they can do this repeatedly and get away with it. I am ashamed of my university.

See also

• April 2024 Israel–Hamas war protests on university campuses in the United States
• 2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupation
• Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
• Student protest

External links

• Media related to 2024 UCLA pro-Palestinian campus occupation at Wikimedia Commons