One day after more than 90 people were arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at USC, a similar encampment was erected at crosstown rival UCLA on Thursday, this time with protesters fortifying their position with wood pallets and other materials.
Students for Justice in Palestine and the UC Divest Coalition at UCLA set up in front of Royce Hall at the center of the Westwood campus with unfurled banners protesting the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza.
In a statement on Instagram, the group is calling on UCLA to divest from companies that profit off the conflict. They join more than 20 other college campus demonstrations, mostly pro-Palestinian, in response to Israel’s invasion of Gaza following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities, who also reported about 250 people were taken hostage. Israel says about 100 of those original hostages are believed to remain captive. Israel’s bombing of Gaza has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of whom are women and children, according to the local health authority.
On Wednesday, more than 90 people were arrested at USC after they refused to disperse from a camp-in demonstration in Alumni Park.
USC has since closed its campus to the public and is only admitting people who can show a school identification or verifiable business there.
Mary Osako, vice chancellor of UCLA Strategic Communications said in a statement to LAist, “our top priority is always the safety and wellbeing of our entire Bruin community. We’re actively monitoring this situation to support a peaceful campus environment that respects our community’s right to free expression while minimizing disruption to our teaching and learning mission.”
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