Photo Credit: Jae C. Hong | AP Photo
(LOS ANGELES, CA – 5/2/2024) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the Muslim Student Association (MSA) West today condemned the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for its militarized police response to the school’s anti-genocide encampment, leading to the arrest of around 200 student protesters.
SEE: More than 200 arrested as police dismantle UCLA pro-Palestinian camp
Early this morning, police wearing body armor and face shields and armed with guns shooting rubber bullets entered the UCLA Gaza Solidarity Encampment and began dismantling the tents and barriers around the encampment. There were reports of several injuries of protesters.
The police response came immediately after pro-Israel extremists from outside groups came onto campus in the middle of the night to violently attack students in the encampment, injuring several people. The assailants shot fireworks at the student protesters, attacked them with chemical weapons, engaged in psychological warfare, and attempted to tear down the encampment.
CAIR-LA called on California and national political leaders to condemn the brutal attacks and for an investigation into the lack of protection from police and UCLA administration for the pro-Palestinian student protesters.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Legal Director Amr Shabaik said:
“We strongly condemn the arrest of the nearly 200 students participating in the encampment to protest against Israel’s genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced starvation in Gaza. UCLA allowed violent extremists to attack and brutalize these students just days before and is now apparently using that incident as a pretext for a heavy-handed police presence at the encampment to arrest the protesters. It is beyond the pale that UCLA could summon a large, militarized police presence to take down the encampment of peaceful student protesters but did nothing to protect these same students from a violent pro-Israeli mob.
“This is yet another example of suppression from colleges and universities of students’ pro-Palestinian speech. We condemn the UCLA administration’s contribution to the intimidation, harassment, and use of excessive law enforcement presence against students participating in peaceful protest and assembly on their own campus.”
In a statement, MSA West said:
“We believe student protests are at the heart of a democratic society. We are a part of a long legacy of students who have challenged the Vietnam War, South African apartheid, and now the plight of the Palestinian people. We will continue to advocate for Palestine until it is free. Violent pro-Israeli mobs and police action only serve to strengthen our resolve.
“We are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom, UC President Michael Drake, and UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block to investigate the violent mob that assaulted students for hours at the encampment. We hold these leaders accountable not only for their failure to protect students from violence on campus, but also for their complicity in facilitating this violence by both the mob and law enforcement. We demand amnesty for all those arrested and immediate protections for students practicing their freedom of speech and assembly across California campuses.
“We are immensely proud of our students for their unwavering stand for justice. The UCLA Palestine Solidarity encampment is part of a growing movement at over one hundred college campuses across the nation where students have established similar encampments to advocate for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people, reflecting a powerful commitment to social justice and human rights.”
WATCH: CAIR-LA, Partners Press Conference Addressing Recent Violence Against UCLA Students
CAIR-LA held a press conference yesterday on UCLA’s campus, along with several prominent Muslim-serving organizations, including the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Muslim Public Affairs Council, and the Islamic Circle of North America and members of UCLA’s Muslim Students Association, to address the extreme violence against the peaceful student protesters.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
MSA West serves Muslim students at forty college campuses across California. Our mission is to provide resources to develop principled Muslim students as catalysts for change.
– END –
CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851, eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Madi Morse-Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com