UCLA Bolsters Security Amid Pro-Palestine Protest Encampment on Campus
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is ramping up security measures around a pro-Palestine protest encampment that has occupied a sizeable campus plaza for several days. This decision follows minor altercations between demonstrators and counterdemonstrators on Sunday.
Growing Encampment with Limited Access
By Monday, the encampment at Royce Quad had expanded to roughly 50 tents, barricaded by wooden and metal fences. Protesters have appointed guards to restrict access to the site, including representatives from the media.
KTLA 5 News observed these guards attempting to deny entry to UCLA firefighters during an inspection on Monday morning. However, after negotiations, the firefighters were eventually admitted.
Protesters’ Demands and University Response
Protesters are calling for an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Additionally, they demand that UCLA divest all investments related to Israel, a move the university has continuously resisted.
Clashing Demonstrators with Buffer Zone
On Sunday, tensions escalated when pro-Israel protestors held a large rally next to the encampment, attended by hundreds or even thousands of participants. The rally featured speeches, projected videos, and waving Israeli and U.S. flags.
Despite the proximity, no major injuries or arrests were reported thanks to a designated security buffer zone separating the two groups.
USC Protest and Valedictorian’s Commencement Speech
In a related incident near downtown Los Angeles, demonstrators protested the commencement speech cancellation by the valedictorian at the University of Southern California (USC). Asna Tabassum, a Muslim student, was prevented from delivering her address due to unspecified security concerns.
