On Thursday afternoon, more than two dozen officers in riot gear confronted pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA, who had established a new encampment on campus just hours earlier. The incident unfolded against a backdrop of rising tensions between pro-Palestinian students, their faculty supporters, and university administrators. This conflict coincided with an announcement from the academic workers union, stating that their ongoing strike regarding working conditions would expand to UCLA and UC Davis starting Tuesday.
Union representatives argue that their rights to free speech have been compromised, alleging that UC system leaders have resorted to calling in police to forcibly dismantle pro-Palestinian encampments across various campuses, including UCLA. “It’s a very fraught, violent environment that the administration has created here,” noted Vincent Doehr, a graduate student and union member. He expressed concerns about the disruption caused by the administration's actions to shut down areas of campus due to the encampment, which was set up in the courtyard of a single building.
What began as a modest gathering of protesters setting up tents on the Kerckhoff patio quickly escalated, drawing hundreds of supporters, including academic union members, by the afternoon. As police pushed back against the crowd, protesters retreated to a different section of campus near Murphy Hall, where police proceeded to dismantle the encampment and remove the wooden pallets that surrounded it. A spokesperson for the campus reported that, as of Thursday afternoon, no arrests had been made, and it remained unclear if there were any injuries.
Video footage captured protesters marching through Dodd Hall, chanting the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” while a Palestinian flag was displayed from a second-floor window of the building. Sebastian Cazares, a UCLA graduate student and local civil rights organizer, emphasized that the new encampment was a demonstration that “police repression could not stop this movement.”
"Despite the fact that this is a peaceful movement, they’re still learning no lessons and sending out militarized law enforcement in response,” he explained. Doehr expressed hope that the strike would encourage the university to engage in constructive negotiations regarding the movement for divestment instead of resorting to police intervention during student protests.
According to the union, numerous academic workers continue to face criminal charges, disciplinary actions, or both, with many barred from campus, including access to housing and classes. Just hours before the police arrived, campus officials had warned encampment participants to disperse or risk facing disciplinary and legal repercussions. “Law enforcement is prepared to arrest individuals, in accordance with applicable law,” administrators stated in a letter directed at the protesters, reaffirming their commitment to the safety and well-being of all Bruins and the free expression rights of the community.
As the afternoon progressed, a small group of students wearing kaffiyehs gathered at the north end of the encampment, sharing drinks and snacks as a show of support for the protesters. Meanwhile, another group congregated at the south end, holding signs that read, “UAW rank & file workers for Palestine,” while chanting “Free Palestine” as they marched in a circle outside the nearby Mathematical Sciences Building.
Police tape was used to block access to the encampment, and officers restricted entry to the area. At one point, protesters defied the police tape to deliver water to those at the site. The classes held in the surrounding buildings were shifted to online formats as a response to the unrest.
Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck and Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Safety Rick Braziel issued a statement indicating that the actions of the demonstrators—such as erecting barricades and blocking access to portions of the campus—were disrupting university operations. This police response coincided with UCLA Chancellor Gene Block’s testimony before a congressional hearing regarding campus antisemitism, a situation that has been tense for months amid ongoing protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Dana Kopel, a second-year PhD student at UCLA and advocate for Palestinian solidarity actions, remarked that the congressional inquiry represents a broader trend in the U.S. to frame antisemitism as a means to suppress student protests and justify the violent suppression of such protests at universities, including UCLA.
Rafael Jaime, a graduate student and local union president who witnessed the events unfold during the prior attack in late April, criticized the university administration for its inaction during violent incidents, saying, “I was there for many hours while the university stood by and allowed the attack to continue.”
UCLA's handling of the situation has faced significant backlash, leading to the reassignment of UCLA Police Chief John Thomas due to security failures that resulted in violence. Thomas had previously defended his decisions, claiming he did the best he could under the circumstances.
Much like universities across the nation, UCLA has become a focal point for pro-Palestinian activism in recent months. Students, faculty, and staff have created makeshift camps, demanding an end to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and urging their institutions to divest from companies that provide military support to Israel. While several encampments, including one at Cal State Los Angeles, continue to operate, others at USC and UC Irvine have been forcibly dismantled by authorities in recent weeks.
Union leaders are advocating for the protection of free speech on campus, amnesty for all academic staff and students facing disciplinary measures due to their protest involvement, and divestment from companies profiting from the conflict in Gaza. In response, the university has sought a court injunction to halt the strike, deeming it illegal.
UCLA graduate student Anny Viloria Winnett emphasized the necessity of striking to advocate for a safe environment and the preservation of free speech, stating, “There is no existential threat larger for a union than not being able to speak our mind and protest.”
With continued activism and unrest on campus, the events at UCLA reflect a growing divide in campus politics and the challenges institutions face in balancing free speech with safety and security.
