Police removed barricades this Thursday and began to dismantle a protest camp pro-Palestinians on the UCLA campus after hundreds of protesters defied police orders to leave, 24 hours after counterprotesters attacked the campus encampment.
The early morning intervention occurred after officers threatened over loudspeakers for hours to make arrests if people did not disperse.
Hundreds of people had gathered on campusboth inside and around the entrenched camp as a show of support.
Police helicopters could be heard flying over the area and the explosion of stun grenades, which produce a flash of light and a loud noise to disorient and stun people, while the police advanced and people chanted “where were you last night.”
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Police methodically dismantled the plywood barricade, pallets, metal fences and garbage containers, and opened a gap towards the dozens of protester tents. The police also began removing pergolas and tents.
Protesters held umbrellas as a shield in front of dozens of police officers. Some warned fellow protesters to have water ready in case police used tear gas or other irritants.
The previous night, police and officials at the University of California, Los Angeles They waited hours before stopping the attack by counter protesters. That delay was condemned by Muslim students and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Protesters had rebuilt barriers around their tents Wednesday afternoon as state and campus police looked on.
The protest camps that require universities to stop doing business with Israel or with companies supporting the war in Gaza have spread across campuses across the country, in a student movement that had not been seen this century.
The police response has been similar to that of several decades ago against much larger movements protesting the Vietnam War.
In Middle East, Iranian state television broadcast live images of the police intervention, as does the Qatari pan-Arab network Al Jazeera. Live images from Los Angeles were also broadcast on Israeli television stations.
The tense standoff at UCLA occurred the night after counterprotesters instigated violence at the same location.
The police presence and continued warnings were a contrast to the scenes of the previous night, when Counter protesters attacked the pro-Palestinian campthey threw traffic cones, sprayed tear gas and tore down barriers.
Clashes continued for several hours before police intervened, although no arrests were made.
At least 15 protesters suffered injuriesand the lukewarm response of the authorities was criticized by political leaders, Muslim students and activist groups.
Elsewhere, police made arrests in New Hampshire and removed tents at Dartmouth College, while in Oregon officers arrived at the Portland State University campus as officials tried to end the library occupation that began Monday. .
