US campus protests: hundreds of police in riot gear gather at UCLA as students threatened with arrest – live | US campus protests
Hundreds of police officers in riot gear converged on the UCLA campus
If you’re just joining us, here’s a reminder of how things stand at UCLA, just after 9:00 PM local time.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers are massed on campus in preparation to clear a pro-Palestinian protest camp. Police in tactical gear swarmed from later Wednesday afternoon, filling a square adjacent to the tent complex occupied by throngs of demonstrators.
Hundreds of other pro-Palestinian activists gathered outside the tent city and taunted police with chants of “Shame on you”, some beating drums and waving Palestinian flags.
Before entering, police on a loudspeaker called on demonstrators to leave the protest area or face arrest.
UCLA canceled classes for the day after a violent clash late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning between camp residents and a group of masked counter-protesters who attacked the tent city with sticks and rods.
Key events
A little more than 24 hours after police cleared student protesters who had occupied an academic building at Columbia University, some demonstrators have reportedly returned.
On Wednesday night, Columbia Students for Justice posted online images of messages projected onto Hamilton Hall, the Columbia building that was raided by police on Tuesday night.
The slogans “Escalate for Gaza” and “Students of the World Unite” were projected on the side of the building as a crowd gathered to watch.
Huge crowds of protesters remain at UCLA, cut off from the main camp.
Emily Holshouser, a reporter on the scene, says it “feels like a standoff.”
Everyone is tense and tired. It is not clear when or if anything will change.
This is the scene as we approach 9:30. “This is a peaceful protest. We are unarmed,” chanted protesters. Reporters have no idea who’s in charge. Everyone is tense and tired. It is not clear when or if anything will change. pic.twitter.com/loTXhoAeAH
— Emily Holshouser (@emilyytayylor) May 2, 2024
Over 1,000 protesters are present on the UCLA campus
The Associated Press reports that more than 1,000 protesters are present on campus.
A small town has sprung up in the barricaded camp at UCLA, filled with hundreds of people and tents on campus.
According to the AP, some protesters prayed as the sun set over the campus, while others chanted “we will not leave” or handed out goggles and surgical masks.
Demonstrators wear helmets and headscarves and debate the best ways to handle pepper spray or tear gas as police continue to tell them to disperse.
Several protesters have constructed homemade plywood shields in case of clashes with the police.
At UCLA’s Royce Hall, protesters at the encampment created by pro-Palestinian students and activists continue to chant.
Law enforcement officers continue to gather outside. Both protesters and observers report that they expect police to enter the camp soon.
Hundreds of police officers in riot gear converged on the UCLA campus
If you’re just joining us, here’s a reminder of how things stand at UCLA, just after 9:00 PM local time.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers are massed on campus in preparation to clear a pro-Palestinian protest camp. Police in tactical gear swarmed from later Wednesday afternoon, filling a square adjacent to the tent complex occupied by throngs of demonstrators.
Hundreds of other pro-Palestinian activists gathered outside the tent city and taunted police with chants of “Shame on you”, some beating drums and waving Palestinian flags.
Before entering, police on a loudspeaker called on demonstrators to leave the protest area or face arrest.
UCLA canceled classes for the day after a violent clash late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning between camp residents and a group of masked counter-protesters who attacked the tent city with sticks and rods.
Hundreds gathered outside the protest camp in support of the demonstrators, said Constanza Montemayor, a journalist for UCLA’s student newspaper.
Police used barriers to separate the crowd from the tent camp and deployed around 100 officers between them.
Hundreds of protesters have gathered around the camp. The police presence has been greatly increased in the past few hours, and helicopters remain overhead. pic.twitter.com/cWZH64EFok
— Constanza Montemayor (@ConzMontemayor) May 2, 2024
Police continue to gather at UCLA’s Dickson Plaza. The square is the site of the main protest camp and was also where violent clashes broke out less than 24 hours ago.
Local media reported that hundreds of police officers were present on campus, with at least 100 taking up positions outside the protest camp at UCLA.
Protesters continue to chant from the camp, despite the gathering police presence.
Police have already cordoned off parts of the UCLA campus, creating a buffer between the pro-Palestinian camp and the large group of students and alumni who have gathered in support of the protesters.
Police – some in riot gear – are lined up between the two groups.
According to a Fox News reporter on the ground, tensions are rising. The crowd reportedly chanted “Shame on you” and “LAPD KKK.”
The crowd chanted “Shame on you” and “LAPD KKK” as large numbers of LAPD officers continued to arrive just outside the UCLA camp on campus. Great tension. pic.twitter.com/MDBBW602Qb
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) May 2, 2024
US police are expanding their efforts to break up student protests across the country
As protesters at UCLA are told to disperse and police move onto campus, a quick reminder of the speed with which authorities have moved to quell protests across the country in the past 24 hours.
On Wednesday alone, police launched operations to break up protests in New York, Texas, Wisconsin, Louisiana and Arizona.
It comes after major operations at Columbia University and City College of New York on Tuesday night.
The Associated Press has reported at least 38 times since April 18 that arrests have been made during campus protests.
According to the AP, more than 1,600 people were arrested at 30 schools.
As at UCLA, officials at Portland State University also warned student demonstrators to leave immediately.
Crowds of students, alumni and neighbors continue to gather at UCLA, outside the barricaded area of tents. The AP reports that they sat and applauded various speakers and joined in pro-Palestinian chants.
Ray Williani, who lives nearby, told the AP he came to UCLA Wednesday night to support the pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
“We have to take a stand on this,” he said. “Enough is enough.”
A small group of students holding signs and T-shirts supporting Israel and Jews gathered near the protest camp.
It’s almost 8:30 PM in Los Angeles and police in riot gear are reported to be forming columns and approaching the protest camp at UCLA.
Matthew Louis Royer, a journalist for UCLA’s student newspaper, posted the image below of the situation on campus now.
A large number of police in riot gear are already arriving on the UCLA campus, according to Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, who is on the scene.
He posted a video of students watching police make their way onto campus.
UPDATE: According to an LAPD source, the LAPD has just declared a citywide tactical alert as tensions build on the UCLA campus. More LAPD officers in riot gear are now arriving on campus near the camp. pic.twitter.com/cjLlS0iofH
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) May 2, 2024
Despite a warning to disperse or face arrest, protests at UCLA appeared to have grown throughout the afternoon.
The protesters largely remained in place, according to an AP reporter, chanting pro-Palestinian slogans. Police officers stood in riot gear.
UCLA posted on X that campus operations will be limited Thursday and Friday, with all classes to transition to distance learning. The post urged people to continue to avoid the campus and the Royce Quad area.
As the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office built near the protest camps, some people prayed outside where they gathered.
