California's governor's office has criticized the police response to violence on the University of California, Los Angeles campus. A masked pro-Israeli group attacked a pro-Palestinian student camp before officers were called to the scene. Governor Gavin Newsom's spokesperson called the "limited and delayed" police intervention "unacceptable." Hundreds of police eventually arrived after over two hours of fighting. State officials and university leaders deployed security personnel when clashes erupted just before midnight on Tuesday. However, witnesses claimed law enforcement did not act swiftly enough. The BBC has reached out to UCLA and LAPD for comment.
The university had declared the pro-Palestinian encampment, near Royce Hall, an illegal gathering on Tuesday. Videos online show a large pro-Israeli group arriving on campus just before midnight, attempting to dismantle barriers. Counter-demonstrators defended the area, with some wearing protective gear. Objects, including fireworks, were reportedly thrown by the counter-demonstrators.
Governor Newsom condemned the violence separately on social media, stating that those responsible must be held accountable. Law enforcement sources reported that only a few UCLA police officers were present and retreated due to being outnumbered. Reinforcements were eventually called, and it took three hours to control the situation.
The clashes occurred shortly after police cleared a Columbia University building taken over by students protesting against the war in Gaza. Similar protests have occurred at universities across the US, demanding institutions cut ties with Israel and companies profiting from the conflict.
UCLA cancelled classes to ease tensions on campus. The university's vice-chancellor condemned the violence, and the Los Angeles Mayor called for an investigation.
The Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations blamed the violence on pro-Israel extremists, while the Jewish Federation Los Angeles distanced itself from the violence but criticized the university's chancellor for creating an unsafe environment.
Pressure has increased on college leaders to manage pro-Palestinian protests, but University of California leaders have generally taken a more light-touch approach, in line with guidelines established after previous controversies.
