Pro-Palestine Pro-Israel protestors clash UCLA campus police step

Pro-Israel supporters clash with pro-Palestinian protestors at UCLA campus, police intervene. UCLA Chancellor warns of violence and fear. #UCLA #ProtestClash

Violent clashes erupted on Wednesday at the University of California, Los Angeles campus between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protestors, as reported by a US-based broadcaster. The clashes involved various acts of violence, such as the use of sticks, hurling objects, and tearing down metal barricades. Reports from the UCLA student newspaper Daily Bruin stated that pro-Israel supporters attempted to dismantle a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on the campus.

In response to the escalating violence, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) intervened at the request of UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. The LAPD, equipped with zip ties and pepper spray, aimed to restore order and ensure public safety amidst the chaos.

Visuals from the clash depicted protestors and counter-protestors engaging in physical altercations, wielding sticks while unidentified projectiles flew through the air. This incident mirrored a similar situation in New York City, where police arrested dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University following a prolonged protest encampment standoff.

In a letter posted on the University website, Chancellor Gene D. Block expressed concern over the escalating tensions, noting that while many protestors were peaceful, others resorted to violent tactics that caused anxiety and fear among students, particularly the Jewish community. The clashes at UCLA highlight the ongoing complexities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the challenges of maintaining peace and order in such contentious situations.