Violence on UCLA campus over war in Gaza forces cancellation of classes

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AFTER CHAOS ORDER IS RESTORED, FOR NOW, ON U-C-L-A’S CAMPUS.

BUT THE SCHOOL STILL CANCELED CLASSES WEDNESDAY IN THE WAKE OF VIOLENT CLASHES OVERNIGHT BETWEEN GROUPS OF PROTESTERS.

THE FIGHTS BEGAN WHEN PRO-ISRAEL COUNTER-PROTESTERS ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTED TO DISMANTLE BARRICADES AROUND A PRO-PALESTINIAN ENCAMPMENT ON CAMPUS. THE CONFRONTATION CAME AFTER THE ENCAMPMENTS WERE DECLARED ILLEGAL TUESDAY NIGHT. U-C-L-A WARNED PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS THEY FACED CONSEQUENCES IF THEY REFUSED TO LEAVE.

[EDGAR GOMEZ]

“SO, BASICALLY, THERE WAS A WHOLE BUNCH OF GROUP OF GUYS THAT ARE AGAINST THIS ENCAMPMENT, AND THEY STARTED LIKE TEARING DOWN WOOD ONE-BY-ONE, GATES ONE-BY-ONE, STARTED THROWING WATER BOTTLES. AND UMBRELLAS.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE SITUATION ESCALATED QUICKLY, WITH PEOPLE SHOVING, KICKING AND BEATING EACH OTHER WITH STICKS, SOME EVEN USING PEPPER SPRAY.

[EDGAR GOMEZ]

‘IT’S ONE OF THE CRAZIEST THINGS IN MY LIFE. I’LL SAY THAT. LIKE I NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I NEVER SEEN PEOPLE, LIKE, GET SO HEATED AT THIS MOMENT. AND, IT WAS REALLY BAD, I’LL TELL YOU THAT.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

JUST BEFORE 1 A-M LOCAL TIME, MARY OSAKO, THE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR U-C-L-A’S STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS ISSUED A STATEMENT:

SAYING: “HORRIFIC ACTS OF VIOLENCE OCCURRED AT THE ENCAMPMENT TONIGHT AND WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR MUTUAL AID SUPPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL ARE ON THE SCENE. WE ARE SICKENED BY THIS SENSELESS VIOLENCE.”

MORE THAN TWO HOURS AFTER HER STATEMENT POLICE FINALLY HAD THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL.

SPARKING QUESTIONS OVER WHETHER THE CAMPUS WAS PREPARED FOR THE UNREST. 

[EDGAR GOMEZ]

“THINGS ARE NOT GOING WELL, YOU KNOW. PEOPLE ARE, LIKE, ANGRY AT EACH OTHER. LOTS OF TENSIONS ARE GOING ON. I JUST HOPE THINGS CAN GET RESOLVED AND MAYBE WITH SOME, NEGOTIATIONS IS GOING ON OR WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN. BUT I HOPE THINGS GET RESOLVED RIGHT AWAY.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AS DAWN BROKE, THE SCENE RETURNED TO CALM.

BUT CLASSES DID NOT RESUME AS NORMAL, AS U-C-L-A OFFICIALS ADVISED PEOPLE TO STEER CLEAR OF THE IMPACTED AREA.

MEANWHILE, IN NEW YORK CITY, POLICE DISBANDED A DEMONSTRATION AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. OFFICERS ENTERED A BUILDING FILLED WITH ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS, DISPERSING THE CROWD. THE UNIVERSITY REQUESTED HELP FROM POLICE AFTER PHYSICAL VIOLENCE BROKE OUT.

THESE INCIDENTS COME AMID A BROADER MOVEMENT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES NATIONWIDE. 

WITH STUDENTS PROTESTING ISRAEL’S WAR IN GAZA. TENT ENCAMPMENTS CALLING FOR UNIVERSITIES TO SEVER TIES WITH ISRAEL OR COMPANIES SUPPORTING ISRAEL HAVE SPRUNG UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

LAUREN TAYLOR– STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.