UC San Diego: Those detained booked, released after clearing of ‘Gaza Solidarity’ encampment
UPDATE: ‘Normal operations’ resume at UC San Diego after dozens of protestors arrested
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Hours after 65 people were arrested at UC San Diego on Monday afternoon following the dismantling of the “Gaza Solidarity” encampment on campus, a UC San Diego spokesperson confirmed those detained were being booked and released. FOX 5/KUSI captured on video those detained begin to get released.
Initially around 10:45 a.m. Monday, UC San Diego Police reported 64 arrests during the event. The university said 40 of those were students while 25 were unaffiliated or their relationship to the university unknown at this time. Two minor injuries were reported.
UC San Diego then issued an updated statement Monday afternoon, saying one additional arrest had been made after an earlier statement from the university reported 64 arrests in the morning.
According to a statement from Chancellor Pradeep Khosla at 4:45 p.m., the encampment was cleared because it “violated campus policy and the law and grew to pose an unacceptable risk to the safety of the campus community.”
Specifically, Khosla said authorities found wooden stakes, propane tanks, metal and plywood shields, aerosol spray cans and a sword at the campsite, posing risks to health, fire safety and security.
Khosla said individuals blocked access to fire marshal and health inspectors, and limited free access to areas of campus. Khosla’s statement added that after the camp was dismantled, people began blocking San Diego County Sheriff’s officers and buses, established check points and limited public access to areas on campus, which are “intolerable actions on the UC San Diego campus.” This resulted in one additional arrest, according to Khosla’s statement.
UC San Diego’s west campus operations were suspended Monday morning as police in riot gear moved in to clear the crowd.
Khosla said multiple attempts were made to get the group to disperse, but after people chose to stay, the campsite was dismantled within one hour.
The students who were arrested have been or will be placed under “immediate interim suspension,” the university added.
What are protestors charged with?
The university announced that the area from North Torrey Pines Road to Interstate 5 was an active scene.
Non-essential employees were advised to move to remote operations, while essential employees were directed to report to work as usual.
The university said all west campus facilities would remain closed Monday, while housing and dining would remain open. Additionally, all events scheduled for on west campus were canceled.
All university classes were ordered to operate remotely Monday.
The UC San Diego Central Campus Trolley Station was also temporarily closed, with trains bypassing the station. The Gilman Transit Center was also closed, with buses detouring around police and protest activity.
Officers could be seen in riot gear as the sixth day of protest continued. Demonstrators are demanding that the university break off any ties with Israel.
FOX 5/KUSI was at the scene, seeing some protestors being taken into police custody.
On Sunday night, signs were seen on the north and sounds ends of the encampment, informing students and student organizations that they will be held “fully accountable under the student code of conduct for any and all violations, including participating in encampments on campus.”
Photos of the signs were published by the Triton, UC San Diego’s student led news outlet.
In a message released Wednesday, university Chancellor Pradeep Khosla warned that “unauthorized encampments are strictly prohibited, and we must enforce our campus policies and the law for the safety and well-being of all members of our campus community.”
In a post on Instagram, Students for Justice in Palestine at UC San Diego, who helped organized the encampment, responded to the chancellor’s message, stating, “The UCSD Gaze Solidarity encampment is disappointed but not surprised by the Chancellor Khosla’s recent statement. Citing ‘safety concerns,’ the chancellor is demanding that the encampment disperse under threat of legal and police action. We reject the false narrative painted by Chancellor Khosla of the encampment being disruptive or potentially unsafe; the reality is that students have worked around the clock to maintain the safety and support of those involved.”
UC San Diego released the following statement regarding the police response Monday morning:
“At approximately 6 a.m. today, University of California Police, CHP and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department successfully and peacefully dismantled an illegal encampment on the UC San Diego campus. The decision to vacate the site was based on danger arising from a prolonged event in terms of health, fire, safety and security. One minor injury was reported. No official number of arrests is available at this time.”
The demands of UC San Diego demonstrators echo those of other camp sites that have been erected at dozens of college campuses across the country over the last few weeks, including Columbia University, University of Southern California and UC Los Angeles.
These campuses have become ground zero for a larger reckoning over U.S. involvement in Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, stirring debates about free speech, protest, antisemitism and Islamophobia.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
FOX 5’s Danielle Dawson contributed to this report.
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