The Los Angeles Police Department removed a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Southern California early Sunday morning, pushing several dozen people out of the campus gates in the latest crackdown on student protesters. The encampment had sprouted up nearly two weeks ago in Alumni Park on U.S.C.’s campus in Los Angeles. After the university called the police to the campus and made arrests, the protest returned. The university has been in turmoil following its decision not to allow its Muslim valedictorian to speak at graduation, citing security concerns. The valedictorian claimed she was being silenced and a group supporting the U.S.-Israel relationship accused her of trafficking anti-Semitic rhetoric. U.S.C. later canceled its main graduation ceremony but will hold a modified celebration.
On Sunday morning, police officers in riot gear entered the U.S.C. campus before dawn, pushing about 25 protesters out of the metal gates. The campus quad was left littered with blankets, coolers, overturned canopies, and messages carrying pro-Palestinian sentiments. Officials had tightened security around the campus in the days leading up to the police action, allowing only those with a university ID to enter. U.S.C. President Carol Folt warned that there would be consequences for those flouting campus rules and began the disciplinary process for violators. She stated that while the university values freedom of expression, the protest had crossed a line by obstructing equal access to campus, damaging property, and fomenting harassment, violence, and threats.
Protesters demanded the university call for a cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, detail its investments, and divest from companies they view as enabling Israel and U.S. colonialism, apartheid, genocide, and violence. However, they viewed the police operation on Sunday as an unnecessary escalation. This comes in the context of ongoing scrutiny at the University of California, Los Angeles, over its handling of protests. Police did not intervene for hours as counterprotesters attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment, many of whom wore pro-Israel slogans. The police ultimately arrested about 200 people at the UCLA protest the following night.
The removal of the pro-Palestinian encampment at U.S.C. marks the latest chapter in the university’s recent unrest. The protest had drawn attention both for its duration and the issues it raised, including calls for divestment from companies supporting Israel and opposition to the university’s decision regarding the Muslim valedictorian. U.S.C. had been grappling with how to balance freedom of expression with campus rules and safety concerns, ultimately leading to the decision to clear the encampment. The university faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with protesters and supporters viewing the police action as unnecessarily aggressive and a violation of their rights.
In the aftermath of the clearing of the pro-Palestinian encampment, tensions continue to simmer on the U.S.C. campus. The university’s decision to cancel its main graduation ceremony and the ongoing controversy surrounding the Muslim valedictorian have fueled discontent among protesters and students. The broader issues of divestment and investment in relation to the Israel-Palestine conflict remain unresolved, with protesters continuing to push for change. The events at U.S.C. also serve as a reminder of the wider debate around freedom of expression, security, and the handling of protests on college campuses, particularly in the context of contentious political and social issues.
