The atmosphere at UCLA and Dartmouth College turned tense as police clashed with protesters at both locations. At UCLA, police formed a line to prevent more protesters from entering the encampment area in Royce Quad, leading to scuffles and arrests. Similarly, at Dartmouth College, at least 90 people were arrested early in the morning for offenses including criminal trespass and resisting arrest. Despite repeated warnings to leave, many protesters chose to stay, prompting the arrests.
Meanwhile, at UCLA, hundreds of sympathizers gathered outside the protest encampment to show their support after the area was cordoned off by police following violent altercations. Pro-Palestinian supporters chanted slogans in support of peaceful protest while police officers maintained a line to prevent them from advancing further into the campus. Graffiti and protest placards adorned the walls of the encampment as protesters defied police orders to vacate the area.
LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia urged UCLA and city leaders to do more to protect students, as tensions escalated between protesters and law enforcement. Mejia expressed concern over the large police presence and called for the protection of peaceful student protesters against outside mobs. The situation remained volatile at UCLA, with news crews reporting a large crowd on campus and police seen in riot gear.
In a separate incident at Columbia University, a veteran activist named Lisa Fithian was labeled a “professional agitator” by the NYPD as she provided guidance to student protesters barricading a building. The presence of Fithian, who is not affiliated with the university, raised concerns among law enforcement about escalating protests on campus. The involvement of external individuals in student-led demonstrations added another layer of complexity to the ongoing protests.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement to manage the situations at various campuses, tensions remained high as counter-protesters reportedly threw fireworks and tear gas at the pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA. The actions of these counter-protesters, who did not appear to be student-led, further heightened the security concerns for both protesters and police officers. The ongoing clashes and arrests at UCLA and Dartmouth College underscored the challenges in balancing the rights of protesters with the need to maintain public safety and order on college campuses.
