Los Angeles, California – More protests erupted at UCLA on Monday, May 6, 2024, resulting in multiple arrests by police in a campus parking garage. The tension at the University of California, Los Angeles, continued over the weekend as professors protested outside an A-list gala at the school on Saturday night. In addition, several dozen students were detained on Monday, and investigations into the previous week’s attack on the pro-Palestine encampment on campus were ongoing.
Despite a significant police presence and arrests on Thursday, protesters supporting Palestine persisted on Monday at UCLA. According to local news reports, 43 protesters were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and were later released after processing. As a result, all classes at the university have been moved to remote settings.
The protests at UCLA saw a group of demonstrators being detained by authorities in a parking garage and taken to an LACPD bus. Additionally, a group of roughly 20 UCLA faculty members protested outside the Hammer Museum over the weekend, expressing their concerns amid the ongoing unrest on campus.
Following a violent attack at UCLA’s Royce Quad the previous week, campus security and local police faced scrutiny for their handling of the situation. The attack, carried out by masked individuals with apparent pro-Israel affiliations, led to investigations by the university and the head of the UC system. In response to the incident, a new Office of Campus Safety was established at UCLA over the weekend.
The incident at UCLA has attracted national attention, with The New York Times publishing an in-depth analysis of the events. The investigative report highlighted the largely peaceful nature of the pro-Palestine demonstrators and the delay in police intervention during the violent confrontation.
The aftermath of the attack has prompted online efforts to identify the attackers and understand their motives. A fundraising page organized by counter-protesters has raised significant funds, drawing the support of notable individuals like Jessica Seinfeld and Bill Ackman.
As tensions continue to simmer at UCLA, the community remains divided over the events that transpired and the response of authorities. The incident is emblematic of broader cultural and political conflicts surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with implications for campus activism and safety measures.