In a latest development in ongoing pro-Palestinian protests across the number of prestigious universities in USA, a violent clash break out between the pro-Palestinian protestors and Israeli supporters on Wednesday at the University of California, Loss Angeles, as reported by the Associated Press.
This incident happened after police cleared the pro-Palestinian protesters from Columbia University, it added.
There have been clashes resulting in over 1,000 arrests. In some cases, university officials and protest leaders have reached agreements to minimise disruptions to campus activities and upcoming commencement ceremonies.
The conflicts at UCLA occurred near a tent encampment set up by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, who fortified it with barricades and plywood for protection. Counter-protesters attempted to dismantle these structures, leading to clashes. During the altercation, individuals hurled chairs, and at one instance, a group ganged up on an individual lying on the ground, assaulting them with sticks until others intervened to stop the violence. The extent of injuries sustained by individuals involved remains unclear.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the violence as “absolutely abhorrent and inexcusable” in a post on social media platform X and said officers from the Los Angeles Police Department were on the scene.
California Highway Patrol officers were also present at the scene, with the university confirming their request for assistance. In response to reports of “physical altercations” between various protest factions, security measures at the campus were heightened on Tuesday.
Police spokesman Carlos Nieves stated that there were no immediate reports of injuries. The arrests took place after protesters disregarded an earlier ultimatum to vacate the encampment on Monday or face suspension. This unfolded as other universities intensified efforts to quell demonstrations inspired by Columbia.
Fabien Lugo, a first-year accounting student who was not part of the ongoing protests at the university, criticised the university’s call to involve the police to handle the demonstrations. “This is too intense,” he said. “It feels like more of an escalation than a de-escalation.”
(With inputs from Associated Press)
