FBI and LA Police help investigate violent siege at UCLA camp

Los Angeles, CA – April 30: Barricades surround the pro-Palestine group camp as a member (right) is attacked by a pro-Israel group member (left) on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA UCLA is beaten. (Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Nearly a week after violence erupted on the UCLA campus, Chancellor Gene Block announced Monday that the school is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department to hold those responsible for the altercation accountable.

Hostilities outside the pro-Palestinian solidarity camp have been simmering since protesters took over Royce Quad on April 25, setting up dozens of tents and surrounding themselves with metal fencing and wooden pallets.

On April 30, just hours after Chancellor Block labeled the encampment “unauthorized,” pro-Israel counter-protesters, many dressed in all black, with white masks over their faces and flags over their shoulders, threw fireworks at the encampment and attempted to dismantle the barricades.

For at least two hours, campus police watched as both factions threw punches, threw objects at each other and distributed pepper spray and fire extinguishers. A chaotic scene emerged that was only contained around 2 a.m. when LAPD officers arrived.

University of California System President Michael Drake said 15 people were injured, one of whom required hospitalization.

Despite the widespread violence, no arrests were reported, although Chancellor Block promised a “thorough investigation.”

Just two days later, on May 2, police moved in, cleared the camp and arrested several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

Today, Block made good on his promise, saying the university is committed to identifying and holding accountable the perpetrators of last week’s violence.

“The LAPD has committed a detective to assist with our investigative efforts, and we have also contacted the FBI about possible assistance,” the chancellor said in a message to the Bruin community on Monday. “We have spoken with Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón to ask for his help in ensuring that the instigators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Block added that investigators are reviewing all available footage of the April 30 incident, interviewing witnesses and urging anyone with information about the attack to report it as soon as possible.

Despite the announcement, demonstrations continued on the UCLA campus Monday.

The university’s newly established Office of Campus Safety, led by former Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel, arrested 43 people in a campus parking garage this morning.

According to police, the group refused to identify themselves and prove whether they were students who were allowed on campus during the curfew.

According to UCLA regulations, non-university individuals are not permitted to enter campus between midnight and 6 a.m. without permission. Everyone, including students, staff and faculty, must present identification if campus police determine there is a disturbance of campus peace, KTLA’s Samanth Cortese reported.

Later, dozens of protesters, perhaps more than 100, marched through campus and gathered for a rally in front of the student union building. The The university then announced this that all courses would be moved to remote due to “ongoing disruptions.”

School officials also said Royce Hall and Powell libraries would remain closed through Friday.

UCLA did not respond to several questions from KTLA about today’s arrests.