Law enforcement officers gathered in large numbers on the campus of the University of California at Los Angeles after nightfall on Wednesday to dismantle a pro-Palestinian protest camp that had been attacked the previous night by pro-Israel supporters.
Television footage showed police in tactical gear entering the UCLA campus near a cluster of tents occupied by demonstrators. Some activists were observed wearing protective gear like hard hats, goggles, and respirator masks in anticipation of the planned removal, which followed the university's declaration that the encampment was unlawful.
Outside the tent city, hundreds of other pro-Palestinian activists assembled, chanting "Shame on you" and waving Palestinian flags as police advanced onto the campus. Many demonstrators wore traditional Palestinian keffiyeh scarves.
Before taking action, police used a loudspeaker to urge the demonstrators to vacate the protest area, situated in a grassy plaza between Royce Hall and the main undergraduate library. Classes at UCLA had been canceled for the day following a violent clash late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning between camp occupants and masked counter-demonstrators who attacked the tent city with sticks and poles.
The raid at UCLA occurred one day after police in New York City arrested pro-Palestinian activists who had occupied a building at Columbia University and dismantled a tent city on the Ivy League school's campus. According to Mayor Eric Adams, about 300 people were arrested at Columbia and City College of New York, with many facing charges of trespassing and criminal mischief.
These incidents at UCLA and in New York are part of a broader wave of student activism across the U.S., marking the largest surge since the anti-racism protests of 2020. The protests reflect opposition to Israel's recent offensive in Gaza following an attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip on October 7. Students at numerous schools nationwide have staged rallies or established tent encampments, calling for divestment from companies supporting Israel's government. In response, many schools have enlisted police to manage the protests.