Police arrested 25 protesters who were supporting the Palestinian cause and dismantled an illegal encampment at UCLA on Monday night. This happened a month after a previous encampment was broken up, resulting in hundreds of arrests.
The UCLA Police Department stated on Tuesday that around 150 protesters were still present and accused some of them of damaging university property and disrupting final exams.
There has been increased tension on several major U.S. college campuses recently, following police actions to disband protests in various states, resulting in over 2,000 arrests.
Mary Osako, UCLA’s vice chancellor for strategic communications, mentioned that the university’s Student Affairs and Campus Safety teams were present to ensure the safety of the community.
The police intervened on Monday when about 100 people started an unauthorized encampment at the top of the Janss Steps, setting up tents, canopies, wooden shields, and water-filled barriers.
Authorities issued a dispersal order, declaring the gathering as an “unlawful assembly,” and the protesters eventually left the area.
The police warned that anyone who remained in the area would be in violation of section 409 of the California Criminal Code, which could result in a fine of up to $1,000 and a jail term of up to 6 months.