Anti-Israel protesters sparked chaos on UCLA’s campus Monday as they set up a new encampment at Dickson Plaza, leading to a police response to clear the area. The demonstrators, who were previously involved in a similar encampment in April and May, were seen carrying fake bloody bodies and body parts while chanting the names of Palestinians who died in the war in Gaza.
The protest escalated as demonstrators stood at the top of the Janss Steps to prevent people from entering the plaza, prompting university police and campus security officers to respond. Clashes between protesters and police ensued, resulting in at least one security officer being treated for injuries.
The tension reached a peak when LAPD declared a tactical alert and campus police detained the Undergraduate Students Association Council President Adam Tfayli. In total, 27 protesters were arrested in a confrontation behind Dodd Hall before the protest dispersed around midnight.
The ongoing protests at UCLA and other colleges in California and across the country are in response to the conflict in the Middle East between Hamas terrorists and Israeli forces. The protesters are demanding their colleges to sever all business ties with Israel.
As the situation continues to unfold, both campus police and LAPD have yet to provide further details. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
