Numerous obstinate pro-Palestinian protestors were forcibly removed by police on Thursday from a number of institutions. Notably, an encampment at UCLA was taken down in a startling image that highlighted the increased instability that has broken out at universities this week.
Helmeted police descended into a tent city that had been erected at the University of California, Los Angeles in the wee hours of the morning. Armed with riot gear and flash bangs, the police forced their way through the ranks of demonstrators who were linking arms in a desperate attempt to stop them.
210 individuals were taken into custody at UCLA, according to social media posts made by Los Angeles police, while hundreds more were taken into custody at other campuses on Thursday and overnight.
One UCLA demonstrator said to the cameras, “I’m a student here,” as he was brought away with his wrists cuffed. “Please do not let us down. Don’t let us down.”
The kid, who would only go by his first name, Ryan, returned to school a few hours later and pledged to keep battling.
Ryan remarked, “We will be back,” after receiving a citation for unlawful assembly. We’re going to cause a stir. We’re going to demand divestiture.”
In recent days, students have protested Israel’s attack on Gaza by holding rallies or erecting tents at many campuses. Protesters have requested that schools divest from firms that support Israel’s government and that President Joe Biden, who has defended Israel’s right to self-defense, take greater action to halt the carnage in Gaza.
To put an end to the demonstrations, some schools—including Colombia University in New York City—have called in the police.
After the raid at UCLA on Thursday, Biden spoke out about the protests, stating that while Americans have the right to demonstrate, they do not have the right to use violence.
He declared at the White House that “destroying property is not a peaceful protest.” It is prohibited by law. This is hardly a peaceful protest when there is vandalism, trespassing, smashing of windows, campus closure, and forced cancellation of classes and graduations.”
Regarding his Israel policy, Biden, who is running for reelection in November against Republican former President Donald Trump, has tread carefully in response to criticism from both the left and the right.
Police at UCLA repeatedly asked protestors to vacate the demonstration area, which was a football field-sized central plaza, before they moved in.
Police used stun grenades, causing dozens of loud explosions, while protesters, some holding homemade shields and umbrellas, yelled “push them back” and shone bright lights in the officers’ eyes.
Officers could be seen demolishing temporary barriers and breaking down tents in live television video.
A day after the university deemed the campsite illegal, some of the protestors were spotted preparing for the siege by donning respirator masks, hard hats, and goggles.
By dawn, the plaza was littered with items left over from the dismantled campsite, including an overturned helmet, tents, blankets, and food containers. Throughout the initial part of the day, as the area was cleared of debris, police were still present.
Police broke into the Portland State University library on Thursday morning in Portland, Oregon, where protesters had been encamped since Monday. Numerous demonstrators bolted from the building, swarming toward a column of riot-clothed cops who apprehended them.
As protesters tried to recapture the library on Thursday night, additional people were taken into custody by the police. A spokesman at the institution described the situation as “very fluid.”
Overnight, police broke up encampments in New Hampshire by arresting about 100 protestors in two different instances at the University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth University.
The demonstrations come after Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip launched a catastrophic attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking many more captive. An Israeli offensive that followed resulted in an estimated 34,000 deaths and a humanitarian catastrophe.
Counterprotesters have responded to the university demonstrations by claiming that they are inciting anti-Semitic sentiment. The pro-Palestinian camp, which includes some Jews against Israeli policies in Gaza, claims that anyone who criticize Israel’s leadership and advocate for human rights are wrongly labeled as antisemitic.
Following a violent altercation between the residents of the encampment and a group of pro-Isaeli masked counter-demonstrators who launched an unexpected attack on the tent city late Tuesday night, UCLA had cancelled classes for the day on Wednesday.
In a written statement, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block stated that although the protest was initially calm, administrators had let it to stay on campus for a few days. However, they later stated that the altercations with the pro-Israeli group put students in danger.
Regarding the encampment, Block stated, “It caused unsafe conditions on our campus and it harmed our ability to carry out our mission.” “It needed to come to an end.”
According to 30-year-old pro-Palestinian demonstrator and UCLA law student Taylor Gee, many demonstrators found Thursday’s police operation “especially galling” in light of the police response’s tardiness the previous evening.
“For them to come out the next night to remove us from the encampment, it doesn’t make any sense, but it also makes all the sense in the world,” he continued.
According to UCLA authorities, the campus, which is home to some 52,000 students, would be closed on Thursday and Friday with the exception of restricted operations.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.