Los Angeles police have broken up the pro-Palestinian protest camp on the UCLA campus. US President Biden condemned the violence of the university occupiers – but does not want to call in the National Guard.
Protests over the Middle East war continue to boil over at US universities. In many places, police units are deployed to drive out pro-Palestinian activists who are occupying university buildings. There was also such an operation on the campus of the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).
The police cleared a tent camp there. The US broadcaster CNN showed images of the remains of the camp on the site in the morning (local time). The officers had previously torn down the barricades that had been set up. According to the AP news agency, at least 200 people were arrested during the evacuation.
Clashes at night
The authorities declared the camp on the UCLA campus an “unlawful gathering” on Wednesday evening (local time). According to the Los Angeles Times, several thousand protesters gathered around the barricaded tent camp and opposed the emergency services, initially pushing them back from the camp. Violence had already broken out the previous night when supporters of the opposing side tried to tear down the protest camp themselves.
In recent weeks, numerous activists and students have gathered at various US university campuses to demonstrate against Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and in solidarity with the Palestinians. Mostly it involves the demand for universities and companies to cut financial relationships with Israel. While some Jewish students take part in these protests, others feel threatened and stay away from universities.
increase in anti-Semitic actions
Critics accuse the radical part of the protest movement in particular of anti-Semitism and trivializing Hamas. This denies Israel the right to exist and on October 7th it carried out an unprecedented massacre of more than 1,200 Israelis who lived on the border with the Gaza Strip. Since then, the government in Tel Aviv has been conducting a large-scale military operation against the terrorist organization in the coastal area.
Anti-Semitic acts have increased at universities since October 7th, as have Islamophobic attacks. In many places, the pro-Palestinian activists are confronted by demonstrators who show solidarity with the Israeli side and demand the release of the hostages still held captive by Hamas.
Biden: vandalism and intimidation
US President Joe Biden made it clear during a speech at the White House that there is the right to protest, “but not the right to cause chaos.” There should also be no room on campus for anti-Semitism or threats of violence against Jewish students. This also applies to Islamophobia or discrimination against Arab Americans.
Biden emphasized that vandalism and trespassing as well as “threatening and intimidating people” are not peaceful protests. The US President also made it clear that the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest are protected in the USA.
When asked by the press whether the National Guard should get involved, Biden said: “No.” The Democrat also made it clear that the protests have not caused him to rethink his Middle East policy. He also answered “no” to a reporter’s question.
Also deployed at Dartmouth College
More than 2,000 demonstrators have now been arrested across the country. Before the evacuation on the UCLA campus, there were police operations at other US universities: According to the police in the city of Hanover, 90 people were arrested at Dartmouth College in the state of New Hampshire on Wednesday evening (local time). They were accused of trespassing and resisting state authority after tents were set up on the site without permission.
In Dallas, police clearing a protest camp on the University of Texas campus took at least 20 people into custody and were expected to spend the night in jail, Fox4 reported. Stony Brook University in New York also announced that a demonstration on its premises that initially began peacefully had degenerated. Tents were set up and other students were intimidated and harassed. 29 protesters were then arrested, including students and employees as well as non-members of the university.
200 arrests at Columbia University
More than two weeks ago, the wave of campus protests at New York’s elite Columbia University began with a tent camp that was quickly broken up by the police. The approach, which was perceived as particularly harsh, spurred the students on, so that a larger camp was formed. Tensions led the largely peaceful protests to eventually lead to the violent occupation of Hamilton Hall on the Columbia campus. A large contingent of New York police then cleared the campus and temporarily arrested more than 200 students.
Katharina Wilhelm, tagesschau, May 2nd, 2024 4:11 p.m