Los Angeles, California – The office of California’s governor has criticized the police response to violence on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles. Governor Gavin Newsom’s spokesperson deemed the “limited and delayed” police intervention in response to the clashes between a masked pro-Israeli group and pro-Palestinian students as “unacceptable.”
After more than two hours of fighting, hundreds of police descended on the UCLA campus early Wednesday morning. State officials and university leaders had promptly deployed security personnel to the tent camp on Dickson Plaza when the clashes erupted just before midnight on Tuesday. However, eyewitnesses reported that law enforcement officials were slow to react, with one group involved in the encampment stating that officers stood by and ignored pleas for help.
The tensions escalated as a large pro-Israeli group in black outfits and white masks arrived on campus, attempting to dismantle barriers set up by pro-Palestinian campers. The situation further deteriorated as counter-demonstrators hurled objects like fireworks, scooters, water bottles, and tear gas at each other.
Amid the chaos, several reporters, including those from the Daily Bruin student newspaper, were reportedly assaulted and sprayed with irritants by attackers recording the incident on their phones. Governor Newsom later condemned the violence, asserting that those responsible must be held accountable through criminal prosecution, suspension, or expulsion.
The Los Angeles Times revealed that UCLA police officers retreated due to being outnumbered by the crowd, prompting reinforcements from California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles to restore order after three hours. The clashes at the prestigious public college occurred shortly after police in New York City cleared a Columbia University building occupied by students protesting against the war in Gaza. Similar protests have emerged at universities nationwide, demanding institutions sever financial ties with Israel.
As tensions continue to rise, authorities are under pressure to address the escalating pro-Palestinian demonstrations. UCLA canceled classes to diffuse tensions on its campus while facing criticism for the handling of the encampment conflict. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass denounced the violence as “abhorrent and inexcusable,” calling for a thorough investigation and ensuring accountability for all involved in the clashes.
College leaders and law enforcement agencies face scrutiny over their responses to demonstrations, with calls for a more delicate approach to protests emerging since guidelines were revised in 2011 to prioritize peaceful demonstrations and reserve police action as a last resort. The overnight clashes at UCLA shed light on the challenges of managing protests on campuses across the country, as activists demand social and political change amid heightened tensions.