Los Angeles, California – Dueling demonstrations at UCLA campus led to clashes between supporters of pro-Palestinian protesters and counter-protesters rallying around Jewish students. The tensions escalated as a group breached the barriers set up by the university, resulting in physical altercations. Mary Osako, the vice chancellor of UCLA strategic communications, expressed disappointment over the violence that erupted, emphasizing the campus’s history of peaceful protests.
The protests at the Westwood campus mirrored similar demonstrations at the University of Southern California, where controversies surrounding the cancellation of a valedictorian’s speech fueled tensions. Despite some minor clashes and numerous arrests at USC, the situation at UCLA on Sunday remained uncertain in terms of any arrests made. Videos captured confrontations primarily involving pushing and yelling, with reports of minor injuries.
Supporters of the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice gathered to demonstrate in solidarity with students’ right to protest, responding to a request from pro-Palestine protesters on campus. Concurrently, a group named Stand With Us organized a “Stand in Support of Jewish Students” rally to denounce hatred and antisemitism, drawing support from various affiliated organizations.
Pro-Palestine protesters extended their encampment across the UCLA campus overnight, expanding from the Janss Steps to the east end of Royce Hall by Sunday morning. Counter-protesters raised around $65,000 on GoFundMe to back Bruins for Israel, exceeding their initial $26,000 goal.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass emphasized the importance of peaceful expression for protesters at both UCLA and USC. She underscored the right to free speech while denouncing hate speech and antisemitism to safeguard the well-being of all students on campus.
At USC, pro-Palestinian demonstrators returned to campus, reigniting protests aimed at condemning the Israel-Hamas conflict. Despite a calmer and quieter atmosphere during Saturday’s demonstration, frustrations persisted, with some directed at the university itself. The campus was restricted to students and staff, with vehicles undergoing stringent checks at limited entrances.
As night fell, LAPD patrol vehicles moved onto the USC campus, with a tactical alert issued earlier in the day. However, the alert was subsequently canceled, although details of any arrests made remain unclear. USC’s senior vice president of communications, Joel Curran, denounced acts of vandalism and disruptions by protesters on campus.
The protests at USC came following the school’s decision to cancel the commencement speech by valedictorian Asna Tabassum, citing safety concerns related to her online posts. The backlash raised questions about the university’s support for students’ freedom of speech amid ongoing controversies and protests on campus.