UCLA returns to remote classes as protests continue

Tents and trash are left behind at the site of a pro-Palestinian encampment which was cleared by police overnight on the UCLA campus, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

LOS ANGELES – Despite an effort to return to normalcy following unrest and violence that marred the campus last week centered around a now-dismantled pro-Palestinian encampment, UCLA is returning to remote classes Tuesday and for the rest of the week.

UCLA had announced plans to return to in-person instruction Monday following two days of remote learning on Thursday and Friday in the aftermath of the protests and police action to dismantle the encampment.

But it quickly became apparent that normalcy was not in the cards. Several dozen people gathered on an upper level of a campus parking garage early Monday morning, prompting a response from police. More than 40 people were eventually arrested and loaded into a sheriff’s department bus to be taken to a jail for processing on suspicion of what police called conspiracy to commit burglary.

Journalists arrested

Among those arrested were a pair of journalists – William Gude and Sean Beckner-Carmitchel – prompting quick criticism from media organizations.

Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, president of the Society of Professional Journalists, posted on social media, “Both campus media journalists and external journalists must be allowed to cover these protests without law enforcement interference.”

She called the arrests of the journalists “a clear violation of both the First Amendment” and California law.

SPJ condemns today’s arrest of journalist @ACatWithNews at UCLA and demands that authorities immediately drop a criminal charge against him.

“This unwarranted arrest flagrantly violates Sean’s First Amendment right…” said SPJ National President @AshantiBlaize. pic.twitter.com/CtQkIEitGG

— Society of Professional Journalists (@spj_tweets) May 6, 2024

Organizers of the protests at UCLA posted on social media Monday morning that the early morning arrests were illegal and “a continuation of the consistent repression of student activism and the increase of militarization of universities.” The group said protesters “refuse to conduct business as usual” until the university meets demands for divestment from Israel and Israeli-tied businesses.

Meanwhile, 50 or more protesters gathered around 7 a.m. inside the campus’ Moore Hall, staging an apparent sit-in. KCAL9 reported that the crowd had dispersed from the building by 9 a.m., but reports of other unauthorized gatherings began materializing in other buildings.

By late-morning, a crowd of more than 100 people marched through the campus, pausing for a rally outside the student activity center.

The continued protests prompted the university to send out an alert shortly after 10 a.m. announcing that classes were again being pushed to remote.

“Law enforcement is stationed around campus to help promote safety and actively monitor conditions,” according to the alert. “Student Affairs has staff on campus to support our students. The hospital and health system, other clinical operations, and housing and hospitality facilities remain open.

Law School exams will continue as scheduled. UCLA Extension classes scheduled to be held in person in any Westwood or UCLA campus location have been moved to live-online format.”

Later Monday afternoon, the university announced that “due to ongoing disruption,” the campus will remain under limited operations, and classes will remain remote for the rest of the week.

On Sunday, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block announced the creation of an Office of Campus Safety to administer policing and emergency management in the aftermath of campus unrest over pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

The school came under heavy criticism for its response to violence that broke out at the protest encampment last week, with Gov. Gavin Newsom and other elected officials calling for investigations into the university’s reaction, and some critics even calling on Block to resign ahead of his previously announced plan to step down on July 31.

“In the past week, our campus has been shaken by events that have disturbed this sense of safety and strained trust within our community,” Block said in a message to the UCLA community Sunday. “In light of this, both UCLA and the UC Office of the President have committed to a thorough investigation  of our security processes. But one thing is already clear: To best protect our community moving forward, urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations.

“I am therefore taking several actions to significantly alter our campus safety structure. … Effective immediately, I am moving oversight and management of UCLA PD and the Office of Emergency Management from the Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor to a newly created Office of Campus Safety, whose leader reports directly to me. It is clear that UCLA needs a unit and leader whose sole responsibility is campus safety to guide us through tense times. This organizational structure, which elevates our safety and emergency management operations, has proven to be an effective one at other major universities across the country.”

Police moved in and cleared the weeklong pro-Palestinian encampment early Thursday, arresting 209 people. Most of those arrested were booked on suspicion of unlawful assembly, then released from custody with instructions to appear in court at a later date.

No significant injuries to protesters or the hundreds of police officers who took part in the raid were reported. It was unclear how many of them were actually UCLA students.

Disputes between protesters at the encampment peaked overnight last Tuesday and early Wednesday, when the pro-Palestinian encampment was attacked by counter-protesters supporting Israel who set of fireworks and allegedly deployed pepper spray or bear repellent. The violence prompted a cancellation of all classed at UCLA last Wednesday. (CNS)