LOS ANGELES (AP) – In a tumultuous turn of events at UCLA, university administrators were forced to cancel classes after violent clashes erupted at a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. The violence escalated late into the night as counterdemonstrators, donning black attire and white masks, attempted to dismantle barricades surrounding the encampment, sparking chaos and confrontation with campers defending their space. The clashes ensued following the university’s declaration that the camp was in violation of university policy, marking some of the worst violence witnessed on campus.
Videos circulating online captured the chaotic scene with fireworks being set off and thrown into the camp, alongside counterdemonstrators hurling objects such as wood and metal barriers at the camp and its occupants. The tensions had escalated between supporters of Palestine and Israel, culminating in violent altercations on campus. Security guards observed the clashes but refrained from intervening, leaving members of the camp vulnerable to harm and chaos.
As the situation intensified, injuries were reported, with some individuals seeking treatment for eye irritation and other wounds. The extent of the injuries remained unclear, but paramedics were dispatched to assist those in need. UCLA officials swiftly condemned the