The violence occurred at an encampment set up near Royce Hall on the UCLA campus. (photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Updated on May 2: Law enforcement authorities cleared the pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA early on May 2 and arrested more than 200 people.

Authorities declared an unlawful assembly on the evening of May 1 and a large contingent of officers from the California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the UCLA Police Department amassed around the encampment. Officers moved in around 3 a.m. and began dismantling barricades and tents in the area. Media reports stated that some demonstrators were involved in skirmishes with officers before many people left the area. People in the encampment who did not leave were taken into custody.

LAPD spokesman J. Chavez confirmed the department’s officers were involved, but did not have the exact number of arrests. The CHP also declined to comment, stating the UCLA Police Department is the lead investigating agency. Calls to the UCLA Police Department and the university seeking information were not immediately answered. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

After violence erupted on April 30 between counter-demonstrators and pro-Palestinian demonstrators who established an encampment on the University of California Los Angeles campus, condemnation poured in from local leaders.

UCLA officials canceled classes on May 1 following the violence, which started shortly before 11 p.m. on April 30. Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol officers in riot gear were deployed to quell the violence. The groups were separated and no arrests were announced. Numerous people were treated for injuries. The counter-protesters are not believed to be students and came from off-campus, according to reports.

Mayor Karen Bass, who was in Washington, D.C. when the violence erupted, returned to Los Angeles the following morning. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block asked for assistance from the LAPD after the violence erupted, and Bass gave the OK to send officers on to the campus.

“The violence at UCLA is absolutely abhorrent and inexcusable,” Bass said.

The mayor met with law enforcement and university officials on May 1 and said police have launched an investigation into the incident.

“There must be a full investigation into what occurred on campus. Those involved in launching fireworks at other people, spraying chemicals and physically assaulting others will be found, arrested and prosecuted, as well as anyone involved in any form of violence or lawlessness,” Bass added. “I want to make sure the message I delivered to law enforcement and other officials earlier is clear. Free speech will be protected. Violence and bigotry will not.”

“I’m grateful to LAPD and Mayor Bass for stepping in to ensure the safety of everyone on campus,” said Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, 5th District. “[UCLA Police Department’s] response was both too slow and ineffective in protecting student safety. In failing to control the situation, students and others on campus were left vulnerable to violence that has no place on our college campuses. We need a full investigation into what happened, including the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for violent acts.”

“The violence that occurred at UCLA is unacceptable,” added Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Lindsey Horvath, 3rd District, which includes UCLA. “I am in close contact with UCLA administrators, L.A. County’s Office of Emergency Management and Sheriff [Robert] Luna, and am working to convene leaders to find lasting solutions for all. For safety to truly be a priority, we must take thoughtful and appropriate steps to protect it. The UCLA community deserves nothing less.”

UCLA administrators announced that Royce Hall would remain closed until May 6. People were asked to avoid the Royce Quad, where the violence took place.

Many other leaders and community members condemned the April 30 violence, and some called on UCLA to do more to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“We are appalled at the violence that took place on the campus of UCLA. The abhorrent actions of a few counter protestors do not represent the Jewish community or our values. We believe in peaceful, civic discourse,” read a statement from the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. “We call on the chancellor and UCLA to immediately close the encampment and reestablish deterrence. We also call on the chancellor to meet with leaders of the Jewish community and with elected officials to articulate how UCLA will ensure Jewish safety and safety for all on campus, and establish long-term security plans to prevent any future violence.”

“The horrific acts of violence against UCLA students and demonstrators that occurred on campus are abhorrent and have no place in Los Angeles or in our democracy. No matter how strongly one may disagree with or be offended by the anti-Israel demonstrators’ messages, tactics or goals, violence is never acceptable and those responsible must be held accountable,” said Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood). “For days, I have been requesting increased security on campus after my staff and I witnessed rising tensions between demonstrators and counter-protestors and ourselves felt unsafe on campus. I have pled with the UCLA administration to take necessary steps to protect students from violence, harassment and intimidation. [On April 30] my staff witnessed the violent assault of a Jewish student on campus, just one of many antisemitic incidents that have occurred in the last week and in recent months. Hours later, a violent mob attacked protestors at the encampment with fireworks, pepper spray and blunt objects, reportedly injuring students and reporters. In both instances, university security failed to prevent the assaults or respond in a timely manner, despite Chancellor Block’s assurances of adequate security on campus. While we continue to gather all the facts, one thing is abundantly clear: the UCLA administration has failed in their most important duty – to protect the safety, wellbeing and civil rights of all students on campus.”

Block sent a message to students and staff at the university, defending the response to the pro-Palestinian encampment and outlining what steps the university plans to take as a result of the violence.

“Many of the demonstrators, as well as counter-demonstrators who have come to the area, have been peaceful in their activism. But the tactics of others have frankly been shocking and shameful. We have seen instances of violence completely at odds with our values as an institution dedicated to respect and mutual understanding. In other cases, students on their way to class have been physically blocked from accessing parts of the campus,” Block said in the statement. “UCLA supports peaceful protest, but not activism that harms our ability to carry out our academic mission and makes people in our community feel bullied, threatened and afraid. These incidents have put many on our campus, especially our Jewish students, in a state of anxiety and fear. In response, we have taken several immediate actions. We have significantly increased our security presence in the area, including adding greater numbers of law enforcement officers, safety personnel and student affairs mitigators. We have also engaged law enforcement to investigate the recent acts of violence. The barriers that demonstrators used to block access to buildings have been removed, and we have staff located around Royce Quad to help ensure that they will not go up again.”