The police have increased their presence on US college campuses on Wednesday after forcibly forcibly clearing away some long-running protests against Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), many police cars patrolled after clashes erupted overnight when counter-protesters attacked pro-Palestinian students. Classes were cancelled for the day, and UCLA Chancellor Gene Block promised an investigation that could result in arrests or expulsions.
Block condemned the violence against pro-Palestinian demonstrators, calling it “shocking” and blaming it on a “group of instigators”.
“I don’t think we should have a heavy police force on campus,” said 22-year-old UCLA student Mark Torre, speaking to AFP while observing the situation from behind metal barriers. “But more and more, day by day, I think it’s a necessary evil, to at least keep safety on campus.”
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) stated on Thursday that no arrests were made at UCLA, and confirmed that they did not use force on protesters.
“The Los Angeles Police Department, along with other local law-enforcement agencies will remain in the area to ensure public safety until the situation is resolved,” a release by the LAPD read.
Over 300 arrest made at Columbia, CUNY
While at Columbia University in New York City, which has been at the epicentre of the protests, police remained vigilant after dispersing demonstrations late Tuesday.
Following the overnight clearing of protesters, some students criticised the “rough and aggressive” tactics employed by officers.
“We were assaulted, brutally arrested. And I was held for up to six hours before being released, pretty banged up, got stomped on, got cut up,” a City University of New York (CUNY) student said.
New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban said at a news conference on Wednesday that about 300 arrests were made at Columbia and CUNY.
The clashes at UCLA and in New York were part of the largest surge of student activism in the US since the anti-racism rallies and marches of 2020.
White House Reacts
The White House affirmed its support for Americans’ right to protest, stating that only a “small percentage” of students are causing “disruption” on US campuses amid demonstrations against the Gaza war.
“We believe it’s a small number of students who are causing this disruption, and if they’re going to protest, Americans have the right to do it in a peaceful way within the law,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told the media on Wednesday.
In the past few weeks, at least 30 universities across the United States have rallied or established tent encampments demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as divestment from Israel and companies associated with the Israeli government and its army. The protests call for colleges and universities to cut financial ties with Israel due to the Israel-Hamas war.
Here are the latest developments from the pro-Palestine protests across US university campuses.
- Police took down a protest camp at the University of Texas on Wednesday, arresting over a dozen people.
- Police detained several people at Fordham University in New York and cleared an encampment that had been set up inside a school building.
- The University of Texas Dallas witnessed police removing an encampment and arresting at least 17 people for “criminal trespass,” according to the school.
(With inputs from agencies)
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