On Wednesday morning, the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) became a battleground as supporters of Israel attacked a camp set up by Hamas supporters.
Witness footage, verified by Reuters, depicted individuals wielding sticks or poles to dismantle makeshift barricades protecting the Hamas supporters.
Meanwhile, on the opposite coast, police in New York City detained scores of Hamas supporters at Columbia University, culminating in the removal of a protest encampment. School officials had previously deemed the encampment unlawful and in violation of university policies.
Chaos ensued as clashes erupted between opposing groups. At UCLA, predominantly male counter-demonstrators, some masked and seemingly older than students, engaged in violent altercations with Hamas supporters. The scene devolved into mayhem as both sides exchanged blows and sprayed each other with unknown substances.
Kaia Shah, a Hamas supporter and UCLA researcher, lamented the escalation of violence, stating, "They were coming up here and just violently attacking us." Sophia Sandino, another protester, voiced disappointment at the lack of police intervention, alleging that Hamas supporters faced aggression without adequate protection.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to UCLA's request for assistance, citing multiple acts of violence within the encampment. Police swiftly cleared the central quad adjacent to the encampment, erecting metal crowd barriers to restore order.
Meanwhile, in New York City, police forcibly entered Hamilton Hall at Columbia University to disperse Hamas supporters. Dozens were arrested as officers apprehended protesters and removed them from the premises.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik requested continued police presence on campus to prevent further encampments. However, students outside Hamilton Hall denounced the police action, chanting slogans in support of Palestine and criticizing the arrests.
The university accused the occupiers of vandalism and trespassing, warning of academic consequences for participating students. Mayor Eric Adams and police officials alleged that "outside agitators" instigated the occupation, though evidence supporting this claim was not provided.
Similar incidents occurred at Tulane University in New Orleans, the University of Arizona, and the City College of New York, resulting in multiple arrests.
UCLA, part of the University of California system, is located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles and boasts approximately 32,000 undergraduate students.
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