Protesters set up an encampment on the UCLA campus Thursday morning in solidarity with other pro-Palestine demonstrations at universities across the U.S.
Hours prior to the establishment of the encampment in Westwood, its hometown rival USC had already faced a large group of demonstrators, some of whom were arrested after refusing to follow the LAPD’s order to disperse.
Participants erected a makeshift wooden fence alongside the encampment and displayed signs with slogans such as “UCLA Says Free Palestine,” “Blood on the UC Hands” and “When people are occupied, resistance is justified.”
Organizers of the “Palestine Solidarity Encampment,” similar to their counterparts at USC, issued a list of demands that include divestment of all University of California and UCLA Foundation funds from companies tied to Israel, along with
a university call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and an academic boycott by UC against Israeli universities, including a suspension of study-abroad programs.
“For 201 days, Israel has murdered, injured, starved, disappeared, displaced and kidnapped Palestinians with impunity,” according to a message posted online by organizers of the UCLA encampment, including the UC Divest Coalition at UCLA, Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace UCLA.
UCLA joined a growing number of universities where demonstrators camped out, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
This is a developing story.
