A group of protesters began dismantling the barriers separating them from the pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA, sparking a riot that lasted throughout the night. The university had earlier declared the encampment illegal, and security personnel were present in yellow vests during the event. Videos showed protesters shooting fireworks and spraying chemicals, while some attacked individuals using makeshift weapons like sticks and traffic cones.
Protesters inside the encampment fought back against those trying to break through the barriers, shouting “Hold the line!” as violence escalated. The incident brought attention to the tense situation at UCLA and raised questions about campus security and law enforcement response times.
After several hours of protests, UCLA officials called for help from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to restore order. The LAPD riot squad and California State Guard arrived on scene to disperse the protesters. More than 200 people were arrested by Thursday morning, with 15 reported injuries during the attack.
UCLA President Gene Block condemned the violence and called for an end to such actions in a statement released after the incident. He also expressed disappointment with his own campus’s response time to address such issues, stating that there was room for improvement in their handling of such situations. Governor Gavin Newsom’s spokesman also condemned
