SJP Arrest
Image Description: Officers walking and biking in some riot gear and holding rubber bullet guns.
On the anniversary of the UCLA Palestine Solidarity Encampment,instated one year ago on April 25, students observed a heavy increase in police presence around Royce Quad. Where there was once a peaceful, communal encampment protesting against UC investments in genocide, students now navigate police cars, armed officers, and security guards.
On Wednesday, April 30, the student group Students for Justice in Palestine, planned a screening of “The Encampments,” a film produced by Columbia students documenting their experiences last year establishing the first pro-Palestine encampment that later inspired hundreds more across the country. The documentary contextualizes movements that persist today noting their recognition by Palestinians on the ground, refuting their romanticization, and serving as a reminder that the violence and disenfranchisement endured by student protesters is only a sliver of what Palestinians experienced over the last 75 years. This film screening was expected to commemorate the persistence of UCLA students against the institution that has enacted violence against them and to encourage the continued effort against the UC’s financial and academic complicity in the genocide in Palestine.
On April 30, around 2:00 pm, police in Royce detained a student wearing a keffiyeh for unknown reasons. In video footage released by Students for Justice In Palestine, four police officers are seen aggressively approaching a student lying in the bushes. It appears that the student has been pushed/evidently not by their own actions. The police officer closest to the individual can be seen holding a raised hand against the student as he attempts to manhandle them into cooperation. At the same time, one observes surrounding cops attempting to stop students from peacefully filming the encounter.
Despite the students’ aggressive detainment, they continued to speak out against UCLA’s investment in genocide. In the video they can be heard calling out the institution for “refus(ing) to meet students demands to divest.”
The student was then led out of Royce Quad by a multitude of police officers and detained at the Westwood station. Students rallied to support the detained student by gathering outside of the station. The student has since been released.
SJP moved the screening of “The Encampments” to Bruin Plaza due to the aforementioned events. It was then interrupted by rows of riot police sent to disrupt a peaceful movie showing. The student group then relocated to De Neve Plaza, where riot police violently stormed the screening for a second time, charging through the crowds with batons and rubber bullet guns. They arrested two students, providing no reason. The student group, in addition to many others who mobilized to De Neve Plaza in support marched through Westwood to the UCPD station where they were met with a row of riot police. Officers initiated forced relocation of the protesters to the corner of Le Conte Ave and Westwood Blvd with threats to move forward against the peacefully assembled group. Students remained gathered outside of the UCPD station in a show of support for nine hours until the detainees were released. Following release, one student experienced hospitalization for injuries incurred by police.
The events of April 30 showcase the following: while UCLA may have changed chancellors following the violent dismemberment of the encampment last year, its violent repression of free speech persists. In fact, Chancellor Julio Frenk emailed the student body six days ago on April 28, summarizing his “listening exercise web page’s” findings, where he stated this regret for the immense difficulties faced by students last year. He furthered his statements, declaring that “Since last spring, UCLA has taken meaningful steps to ensure we can both maintain our commitment to free expression and make our campus a place where all Bruins feel safe, welcome, supported and able to thrive.” Despite these inflated statements by Frenk, the institution of UCLA sends a clear message with its actions. In reality, UCLA remains committed to one thing — the creation of a terrorizing environment, where students face the threat of arrest and police brutality for simply gathering peacefully.
