An elderly protestor was confronted by police at UCLA who pulled out their guns. City Councilwoman Katie Yaroslavsky wrote on the X website that she and her staff are closely monitoring the protests at UCLA and are in contact with campus leadership to ensure everyone’s safety. Earlier in the day, a man wearing fascist symbolism on his shirt attacked pro-Palestinian demonstrators, leading to an escalation of tensions.
A report by the “Los Angeles Daily News” indicates that the protests at UCLA began quietly and calmly until today, when physical confrontations broke out between protesters on Royce Quad. Mary Osako, UCLA’s vice president for strategic communications, stated that as an institution of higher education, they stand firm on peaceful protest and respect for each other’s humanity. However, they added additional security measures and increased the number of security staff after some individuals chose to endanger the physical safety of the community.
Social media posts discussed various incidents of physical confrontations and altercations between protesters during the pro-Palestine/pro-Israel protests at UCLA. The community and local leaders continued to closely monitor the situation to prevent further escalation and promote a safe environment for all on campus. It is crucial for respectful dialogue and peaceful protest even in moments of disagreement and tension.
