The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) remains a focal point for national student demonstrations concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Tensions continue to flare as pro-Palestine protests persist, investigations into a violent attack on a pro-Palestine encampment unfold, and pro-Israel groups raise funds for counter-protests.
Weekend Protests and Faculty Response
Despite the dismantling of the pro-Palestine encampment and mass arrests by police in riot gear last Thursday, demonstrations continued on Monday. Several dozen students were detained, with some being zip-tied and transported from a parking garage by authorities. Local news reports indicate 43 protesters were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary, but later released after processing. All classes have been transitioned to online learning.
Faculty Protest High-Profile Gala
Adding another layer to the campus turmoil, a group of roughly 20 UCLA faculty members staged a protest outside the Hammer Museum’s gala on Saturday evening. The event honored outgoing director Ann Philbin, with a guest list boasting celebrities like Jane Fonda and Keanu Reeves. Host Jodie Foster acknowledged the recent campus upheaval, which resulted in hundreds of student arrests and the cancellation of classes. Philbin echoed this sentiment, expressing support for freedom of expression and the right to protest. Meanwhile, protesting faculty members, some holding X-rays purportedly showing broken bones sustained by students during the attack, voiced their outrage over the mass arrests, including some of their students.
Investigation into Pro-Palestine Encampment Attack
Police have yet to make any arrests related to the violent attack on the pro-Palestine encampment at Royce Quad last week. The encampment, occupied by demonstrators for over a week demanding UCLA divest from organizations contributing to the alleged “genocide” of Palestinians in Gaza, was attacked by a masked group of men late on April 30th, just hours after Chancellor Gene Block declared the camp illegal. Witnesses reported the attackers, mostly men carrying pro-Israel paraphernalia, yelling in Hebrew as they assaulted individuals and ignited fireworks near the encampment.
Multiple Investigations and Increased Campus Security
The campus security response and local police actions have sparked multiple investigations. Chancellor Block announced a UCLA investigation alongside an additional investigation by the head of the UC system. Amidst ongoing finger-pointing and accusations, Block established a new campus department: The Office of Campus Safety, tasked with managing emergencies. Rick Braziel, a former Sacramento police chief, will serve as the inaugural associate vice chancellor.
Media Scrutiny and Online Efforts
The New York Times video investigative team, piecing together available footage, published an in-depth analysis of the events at the encampment. Their investigation concluded that pro-Palestine demonstrators largely remained peaceful throughout the attack, aside from acts of self-defense. The Times referred to the attackers as counter-protesters and reported that the violent incident lasted nearly five hours.
Online sleuths are actively trying to identify the attackers and their potential affiliation. One attacker, interviewed by a reporter between assaults, stated he wasn’t a UCLA student but believed the encampment was blocking students from attending classes – a claim Chancellor Block echoed when declaring the encampment illegal.
Fundraising for Counter-Protests
Following the attack and subsequent dismantlement of the encampment with approximately 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested, attention has shifted to a GoFundMe fundraising page claiming to organize counter-protests against the UCLA encampment. Titled “Fighting Antisemitism on Campus,” the page has raised over $97,000 as of Monday. The Daily Beast identified the page creator as Beverly Hills resident Nathan Mo, though the author’s name recently changed to “Jew Bears For Truth,” aligning with a linked Instagram account that shared footage from the April 30th attack.
The Daily Beast reported that the fundraiser initially stated plans to bring large screens and loudspeakers near the encampment to “drown out their chants with the screams and cries of October 7th,” possibly referencing a past event. The GoFundMe page title has changed multiple times, including “UCLA counter-protest,” “Bruins for Israel,” and “UCLA rally.” The Hollywood Reporter attempted to contact the group or individual behind the page for an interview but has not yet received a response.
