UCLA cancels classes after night of violence over pro-Palestinian encampment

UCLA officials announced all classes Wednesday morning would be canceled hours after law enforcement was sent to the campus to restore order following attacks on a pro-Palestinian encampment that has been in place at the university since last Thursday.

“Due to the distress caused by the violence that took place on Royce Quad late last night and early this morning, all classes are cancelled today. Please avoid the Royce Quad area,” UCLA posted on X, formerly Twitter, shortly before 8:30 a.m.

The violence erupted shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday when the group of about 50 counterprotestors wearing dark clothing, hoods and white masks covering their faces stormed the barricade and tried to tear it down.

Unarmed security guards were forced to flee as fireworks were launched at the encampment, exploding near the tents that have overtaken Royce Quad.

Several of the attackers, who appeared to be older outside agitators and not students, used what looked like bear spray to douse pro-Palestinian protesters, said KTLA’s John Fenoglio who was at the scene.

Aerial footage from Sky5 captured the chaotic scene, including countless clashes between the two sides. The number of people injured and the severity of the injuries were unclear.

The LAPD was finally sent to the campus at the request of UCLA officials during the early morning hours on Wednesday to restore order and maintain public safety.

The situation appeared to have stabilized in the hours after police arrived.

The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles issued a statement Wednesday denouncing the violent attacks on the encampment.

“We are appalled at the violence that took place on the campus of UCLA last night. The
abhorrent actions of a few counter protestors last night do not represent the Jewish
community or our values. We believe in peaceful, civic discourse,” a portion of the statement read.

Pro-Palestinian protesters are blocking access to UCLA encampment

The Federation also blamed UCLA administration’s “lack of leadership” for allowing an environment that “enabled the chaos we witnessed last night.”

Pro-Palestinian protesters are demanding UCLA divest all interests in Israel and are calling for an immediate halt to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“When you’ve had genocide carry on for this long, people are just not going to be able to live side by side with two governments in the way that it’s been suggested and I think that a free Palestine is the only way forward,” said pro-Palestinian demonstrator Luke Veltz.

Counter-protesters calling for the release of Israeli hostages taken captive on Oct. 7 by Hamas have used screens and speakers to blast images and stories of survivors just feet away from the encampment.

“I think this is blatant antisemitism,” one young man, who was not identified, told KTLA. “This is crazy what’s going on, what they’re letting go on. They’re chanting to kill us. They’re chanting ‘from the river to the sea,’ which is just blatantly to kill us all. I wanted to see what’s going on and it’s scary.”

Is ‘From the river to the sea’ hate speech?

The school declared the encampment unlawful in a letter issued just hours before the violent confrontations began.

In the letter, the university asked demonstrators to leave the area and stated that those who decide to stay could face disciplinary measures, including suspension or expulsion, the Daily Bruin reported.

Officials also announced that Royce Hall will be closed through Friday and that Powell Library won’t reopen until Monday.

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