![In the wake of violent brawls between pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israeli counter protesters, U.S. Congress is launching a probe of UCLA, looking into alleged antisemitic incidents in the past. However, another investigation is underway into pro-Israeli protesters as well, alleging violent acts against pro-Palestinian protesters by some offenders who have largely gone unidentified.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CLEAN-GettyImagesUCLAProbeUnmaskingCounterprotesters_Getty-Images_featuredImage_Fri-May-17-2024.jpg?w=1920)
Gaza protest fallout: Congress launches probe of UCLA after violence on campus
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data[LAUREN TAYLOR]
VIOLENT CLASHES BETWEEN PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS AND PRO-ISRAELI COUNTERPROTESTERS ERUPTED ON THE CAMPUS OF U-C-L-A APRIL 30TH. THE RIOTS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE INJURIES AND HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS.
NOW CONGRESS IS GETTING INVOLVED.
THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IS PROBING THE SCHOOL’S HANDLING OF PRO-PALESTINIAN ENCAMPMENTS AND THE FALLOUT
IN A LETTER TO THE SCHOOL WEDNESDAY, COMMITTEE REPUBLICANS DEMANDED DOCUMENTS, VIDEOS, AND TEXTS REGARDING WHAT THEY CALLED AN “INADEQUATE RESPONSE TO ANTI SEMITISM.”
GIVING THE UNIVERSITY UNTIL MAY 21ST TO TURNOVER THE RECORDS.
COMMITTEE CHAIR VIRGINIA FOXX TOLD SCHOOL LEADERS TO RELEASE ALL SECURITY VIDEOS, COMMUNICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS RELATED TO ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS AND ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FOR THOSE INCIDENTS SINCE THE START OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR ON OCTOBER 7TH. SHE CLAIMS, “JEWISH STUDENTS WERE ATTACKED, HARASSED AND INTIMIDATED FOR WALKING ON THEIR OWN CAMPUS,” CITING ONE INCIDENT WHERE A JEWISH WOMAN WAS REPORTEDLY KICKED IN THE HEAD BY PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE ENCAMPMENT REMAINED ON CAMPUS FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE POLICE TOOK IT APART AND ARRESTED 200 PEOPLE. THE PROBE ALSO DEMANDS U-C-L-A- TURN OVER ALL RECORDINGS, INCLUDING SECURITY VIDEO AND FROM POLICE BODY CAM RECORDINGS OF THE ENCAMPMENT, SINCE APRIL 24TH.
THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AT U-C-L-A SAID THE SCHOOL HAS RECEIVED THE LETTER AND IS REVIEWING IT.
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ALSO WANTS TO KNOW WHY IT TOOK POLICE MORE THAN THREE HOURS TO QUELL THE CHAOS– SOMETHING MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE ALREADY INVESTIGATING. FOXX CITES REPORTS SHOWING CAMPUS POLICE WAITED UNTIL WELL AFTER THE VIOLENCE BEGAN TO CALL IN OUTSIDE HELP.
AS CONGRESS LAUNCHES ITS INVESTIGATION, A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE ASSAULTS DURING THE COUNTER PROTESTS IS UNDERWAY, WITH THE IDENTITIES OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE COUNTERPROTESTERS LARGELY UNKNOWN.
PRO-ISRAEL COUNTERPROTESTERS USED BROOMS AND METAL POLES TO ATTACK THE BARRIERS SET UP BY PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVISTS.
AS ENCAMPMENTS WERE ATTACKED POLICE OFFICERS REPORTEDLY STOOD BY.
LAW ENFORCEMENT DID NOT DOCUMENT INJURIES FROM THE FIGHTS.
BUT CAMPUS ORGANIZERS CLAIM MORE THAN 150 STUDENTS WERE ASSAULTED.
ORGANIZERS ALSO SAY AT LEAST 25 PROTESTERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES INCLUDING FRACTURES, SEVERE CUTS AND MORE.
A JEWISH ORGANIZATION ON CAMPUS DENOUNCED “FRINGE MEMBERS OF THE OFF-CAMPUS JEWISH COMMUNITY” MAINTAINING THEY DO NOT “REPRESENT THE ESTIMATED THREE-THOUSAND JEWISH BRUINS AT U-C-L-A.
OUTSIDE AGITATORS HAVE BEEN BLAMED FOR VIOLENCE ON BOTH SIDES– WITH POLICE ACKNOWLEDGING MANY OF THOSE ARRESTED WERE FROM OUTSIDE THE U-C-L-A COMMUNITY.
FOR MORE STORIES ON CAMPUS PROTESTS OVER THE GAZA WAR–
DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT SAN-DOT-COM.