Pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA refuse orders to disperse

Thousands of people turned out to the University of California, Los Angeles campus Wednesday night, just short of 24 hours after violence broke out between demonstrators in the pro-Palestinian encampment and pro-Israeli counter-protesters.  

On Wednesday, Sky5 was overhead as a large law enforcement presence began to position themselves on different sides of the encampment.  

Not long after police showed up, authorities ordered demonstrators to disperse, declaring the encampment an unlawful assembly over a loudspeaker.  

Aerial footage showed hundreds of demonstrators locking arms in front of the path leading to the encampment and reinforcing barricades, as law enforcement surrounded the encampment.  

Hours later, at around 9 p.m., demonstrators were still occupying the encampment with police on the outskirts despite the orders to disperse issued earlier in the afternoon. 

The crowd outside the encampment grew into thousands as the night continued, though the rowdy demonstration remained mostly peaceful even as law enforcement, including officers from the California Highway Patrol, increased their presence. 

Hostilities outside the encampment had been simmering since demonstrators took over Royce Quad last Thursday, setting up dozens of tents and surrounding themselves with metal fences and wood pallets.    

At around 11 p.m. Tuesday night, some 50 pro-Israeli counter-protesters, many of them dressed in black and wearing white masks, lobbed fireworks at those in the encampment and attempted to dismantle the barricades.  

For at least two hours, campus police stood by as both factions traded punches, hurled items at each other, and dispersed pepper spray and fire extinguishers in a chaotic scene that wasn’t contained until around 2 a.m. when LAPD officers arrived. 

Demonstrators said they believe UCLA Chancellor Gene Block’s statement on Tuesday labeling the encampment as “unauthorized” provided an opening for counter-protesters to take matters into their own hands.  

According to police, no arrests were made, and no force was used.   

School officials on Wednesday morning, canceled all classes as a result of Tuesday’s violence.  

Officials also announced that Royce Hall will be closed through Friday and that Powell Library won’t reopen until Monday. 

Throughout Wednesday night, demonstrators booed as law enforcement, dressed in riot gear, set up what appeared to be skirmish lines on different sides of the encampment, many of them chanting, “We don’t see no riot here! Why are you in riot gear?” 

Around midnight, protesters inside the encampment remained in place and no arrests were reported.