Clash of Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Israel Protesters at UCLA
LOS ANGELES — Tensions escalated at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as clashes erupted between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protesters amid ongoing demonstrations over the war in Gaza sweeping across US campuses.
Nationwide rallies, which have led to hundreds of arrests, showed no signs of slowing down over the weekend.
At UCLA, chaos ensued as “physical altercations broke out” when a barrier separating the two opposing sides was breached, according to an official.
The White House has emphasized the importance of maintaining peaceful demonstrations.
A National Security Council spokesman affirmed the US government’s support for the right to protest over the Israel-Gaza conflict but condemned reported antisemitic incidents and hate speech, urging for non-violent expressions, as stated on ABC.
The Israeli American Council (IAC) organized a pro-Israel counter-protest at UCLA, expressing concerns over antisemitism, particularly citing incidents at Columbia University.
While many pro-Palestinian protesters have distanced themselves from antisemitism, tensions came to a head at UCLA when clashes broke out on Sunday, resulting in campus police intervention to separate the groups.
The university expressed sorrow over the violence, implementing additional security measures in response.
Following the Hamas attack on October 7th and subsequent Israeli military retaliation, sparking casualties on both sides, a nationwide movement demanding a ceasefire and university divestment from Israel has gained momentum, leading to arrests and conflicts at various campuses.
Protesters argue that financial ties with Israel contribute to the ongoing conflict, prompting calls for divestment from companies supporting the nation’s actions.
Incidents of alleged antisemitism have also raised concerns among Jewish students, with reports of threats and slurs at several universities, prompting law enforcement intervention and arrests.
Recent developments include the arrest of Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein at Washington University and the establishment of new encampments by protesters at Yale University.
California State Polytechnic University has shifted to virtual classes amidst the escalating tensions — BBC
