LOS ANGELES/SAN DIEGO– Protesters gathering at the campuses of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of California, San Diego (UCSD) were arrested by local authorities last week and this week, leading to the clearing of the illegally occupied camping sites. However, the protester camp inside California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), still remains, causing increasing concern and unease among the public.
After school on Thursday, reporters witnessed the camp set up in front of the iconic “1984 Olympic Fantasy Mural” at the Physical Education Building. The perimeter was tightly secured with piled-up wooden boards, pallets, old furniture, and music could be heard from within. Tents were haphazardly set up inside, posing a serious fire hazard. Protesters coming in and out mostly wore black masks.
Concerned about campus safety, Mr. A, a school staff member, revealed to reporters that the illegal camp was expanding continuously, and the Olympic Mural had been defaced and vandalized. He expressed distress and worry about the safety issues within the campus.
Last Sunday, Chancellor Berenecea J. Eanes sent a message to the community addressing campus safety, emphasizing support for freedom of speech while condemning illegal activities such as property damage, graffiti, construction, blocking pathways, and fireworks. However, the university has yet to take further action.
Mr. A noted that the camp perimeter was high, equipped with electricity, bedding, food, meal delivery services, a photography studio, medical groups, essentially creating a small town on site.
While he supports freedom of speech, Mr. A questioned if there could be a more appropriate approach. Freedom of speech is peaceful and does not entail property destruction, yet the protesters have vandalized public property, including the Olympic commemorative wall.
He urged the university, the city of Los Angeles, or state authorities to promptly address the safety hazards and rectify the inappropriate behavior.
This week, Republican Assembly candidate for California’s 49th District, Chinese-American lawyer Longzhu Liu, visited the camp and found two “peculiar” aspects: the protesters’ reluctance to disclose their identities and their ability to dominate a US university campus without legal constraints.
The camp’s surroundings were adorned with slogans such as “Free Palestine,” “Let Palestine be Free,” and “Long Live Palestine.” Liu believed that the slogans did not inherently violate the freedom of speech granted by the US Constitution’s First Amendment. However, the unauthorized occupation of the campus exceeded the protection range of freedom of speech.
He pointed out that the campus was a public area accessible to everyone, but the protesters had enclosed the entire camp and set up checkpoints. Entry required their permission, mirroring the common practice of squatting or occupying houses in Los Angeles in recent years, illegally preventing owners from access.
Liu argued that this behavior violated multiple sections of the California Penal Code: illegal entry, vandalism of campus walls, disrupting peace by constructing buildings and barring others from access.
If convicted of illegal entry, the maximum sentence is six months in prison and a $1,000 fine. For disrupting peace, individuals could face misdemeanor charges, up to three months in jail, and a maximum fine of $10,000. Vandalism could lead to a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Liu believed the camp’s presence would cause “psychological pressure” on other students and teachers, potentially affecting those who may be Jewish or support Israel, leading to concerns about their personal safety.
“This kind of concern is understandable,” Liu said. The result is that students may have difficulty focusing on learning or exams, creating immense psychological burden for the entire school community.
Liu suggested that protesters distributing flyers or using small megaphones for promotion was acceptable, but the current actions were “excessive.” Students could face expulsion for breaking the law, international students might be deported, and imprisonment was a possibility. Additionally, these actions could generate backlash and counterproductive effects, hindering the reception of their ideals. ◇