Officers raid pro-Palestinian protest encampment at USC
Law enforcement officers in riot gear cleared another encampment formed by pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the campus of the University of Southern California early Sunday morning.
According to media reports, as many as 100 protesters had pitched tents and erected banners at Alumni Park, located at the center of the private university in Los Angeles.
Witnesses said officers moved in around 4 a.m. and quickly dispersed the protesters.
University officials issued an alert on social media saying the campus was closed due to the activity just before 5:15 a.m. Sunday.
“If you are in the center of campus, please leave,” USC posted on X, formerly Twitter. “People who don’t leave will be arrested.”
A statement issued by USC’s Senior Vice President of Communications Joel Curran just before 7 a.m. Sunday confirmed the removal of the encampment and said that no arrests were made.
“Earlier today, the University of Southern California Department of Public Safety successfully removed the illegal encampment rebuilt on the university’s campus,” Curran’s statement read. “It was necessary to request the Los Angeles Police Department to respond and provide security as this was not carried out peacefully. No arrests have been reported.”
Student journalists who were at the encampments as early as 3 a.m. told KTLA 5’s Annie Rose Ramos that they were peaceful. The area was shortly cordoned off by authorities, who moved the journalists back and eventually cleared the encampment.
“We saw police come in and surround the encampment, slowly move in and alert the protesters that they had 15 minutes to leave,” student journalist Liv Kelleher said. “Many picked up their things and left on their own.”
A social media post put out by the university at 6:25 a.m. declared the encampment cleared, but said that the campus remains closed. More information is set to be released later on Sunday, the university said.
LAPD officers had left the scene before 7 a.m., but a large campus police presence was seen at the center of campus from Sky5. On the ground, Ramos observed many members of the university’s facilities department beginning to clean up the remnants of the encampment.
The public safety department announced that campus was reopened just before 11 a.m. “upon presentation of valid identification.”
“As an important reminder, tents and related equipment remain prohibited on campus and will be subject to immediate confiscation,” officials said. “Camping and other non-permitted events are also prohibited and will be subject to discipline, and no individuals or groups may obstruct free passage throughout our campuses, commencement setup or other functions of the university.”
In a statement, USC President Carol Folt said the encampment had been “volatile” in recent days with vandalism and harassment becoming common place.
“With no resolution in sight, I requested the LAPD to assist DPS in removing the encampment as peacefully and safely as possible,” Folt’s statement read in part. “At 4:10 a.m., an order to disperse was issued, providing the trespassers one last opportunity to leave voluntarily. In 64 minutes, the encampment was abandoned and cleared. The operation was peaceful with no arrests. We will not tolerate illegal encampments of any kind at USC.”
Photos: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clash with police at USC
Sunday’s crackdown came a week and a half after a similar scene unfolded on USC’s campus and resulted in nearly 100 arrests.
Activists were protesting Israel’s bloody military offensive in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on civilians, and also the university’s decision to cancel valedictorian Asna Tabassum‘s speech due to unspecified safety concerns. Tabassum, who is Muslim, had supported anti-Israel posts on social media drawing backlash from the Jewish community.
The university eventually canceled its main commencement event but later announced that a graduation “celebration” would take place at the Los Angeles Coliseum on May 9.
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