Anarchy broke out at UCLA following anti-Israel protests that escalated into violence, with people throwing chairs, using weapons, and engaging in physical altercations. The chaos continued for two hours before law enforcement officers arrived at the scene. LAPD Mayor Karen Bass called the violence “inexcusable” and officers were dispatched to the campus to restore order and maintain public safety. California Highway Patrol officers also responded to assist.
The unrest between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups started late in the evening, with yelling and chants quickly escalating into violence. LAPD officers were not immediately involved until the Los Angeles Police Department arrived at the scene around 2 a.m. The officers were reportedly wearing riot gear, and LAPD confirmed that they were called to the campus by UCLA to help maintain order amidst the chaos. Los Angeles city councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky condemned the violent demonstrations, stating that the campus was “no longer safe.”
UCLA’s Strategic Communications office described the campus riots as “horrific” and expressed their shock at the senseless violence that occurred. Retired police officer Dennis Zine explained that LAPD officers were awaiting instructions from UCLA police before intervening in the situation. The violence seemed to be provoked by a group of students who wanted to remove the anti-Israel encampment, after school officials and law enforcement had decided to allow it to remain. The counterprotest group directly challenged the anti-Israel group, leading to further escalation.
Tusi Gabbard, speaking on “Fox & Friends,” noted that the anti-Israel protesters were mirroring the calls of Hamas and Hezbollah in the Middle East by advocating for the university to divest from Israel. Early Wednesday morning, LAPD led a multi-agency operation to restore order on the campus, which has approximately 32,000 undergraduate students. UCLA is located in the Westwood neighborhood, near Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed to this report regarding the violent protests at UCLA.
