LOS ANGELES – In response to the violence that erupted late Tuesday after a group of counter protestors wearing black clothes and white masks tried to tear down a pro-Palestine encampment at UCLA, University of California President Michael V. Drake has ordered an independent review of the school’s planning, actions, and response by law enforcement, reports the Los Angeles Times.
For more than three hours late Tuesday and early Wednesday, counter-protestors threw objects and launched fireworks at the camp and the pro-Palestine protestors who were inside. Some of the counter-protestors attempted to get inside the encampment, and the pro-Palestine protestors used pepper spray to defend themselves. There were many fights and altercations.
Police eventually moved into the fracas at about 3 a.m., including the LAPD, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and California Highway Patrol.
At least 15 people were reported injured, including one requiring hospitalization, reports ABC7News.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned Tuesday’s violence at UCLA, saying in a statement: “The law is clear: The right to free speech does not extend to inciting violence, vandalism, or lawlessness on campus. Those who engage in illegal behavior must be held accountable for their actions – including through criminal prosecution, suspension, or expulsion.” The governor also criticized law enforcement’s delayed response to the unrest.
The Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) also condemned the violence and called for an investigation into the delayed response by police.
“We strongly condemn this mob of pro-Israel extremists for violently attacking students at the UCLA encampment last night and we call on political leaders to do to the same,” CAIR-LA said in a statement. “Free speech should never be met with crimes of hate. The pro-Israel extremists responsible for last night’s violence must be identified and prosecuted.”
Additionally, the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles issued a statement condemning the violence and the counter-protestors: “The abhorrent actions of a few counter protestors last night do not represent the Jewish community or our values. We believe in peaceful, civic discourse.”
In response to the unrest, law enforcement began dismantling the pro-Palestine demonstrators’ encampment early Thursday morning, reports the Associated Press. Hundreds of protestors have been arrested.
As police moved in, the pro-Palestine protestors chanted “Where were you last night?” in reference to the three-hour delay in law enforcement’s response to the counter-protestors who attacked the encampment the night before.
