After dismantling the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) resumed its on-campus classes on Monday, May 13.
Law enforcement and security personnel are expected to stay on campus for the foreseeable future. The university stated that these personnel will remain on campus to promote safety, and they will monitor the situation if protest activities continue.
As part of the school’s commitment to “freedom of speech and obligation,” peaceful activities are still allowed on campus.
If necessary, the university will provide security escort services on campus and extend the hours of service during the day and night to escort walking students, faculty, staff, and any visitors entering and exiting the campus.
At the same time, the university also indicated that if campus operations are disrupted, on-site classes may be canceled and remote teaching will resume.
On May 2, the pro-Palestinian encampment on the UCLA campus was cleared after nearly nine hours of confrontation, during which more than two hundred protesters were arrested by the police, putting an end to the ongoing protest activity at the site.
After clearing the area, severe graffiti damage was discovered on the main entrance of Royce Hall and the Powell Library. The encampment was littered with trash and items left behind by protesters, including batteries, flashlights, food, and plywood.
In response, UCLA established a new “Campus Safety Office” to lead law enforcement and emergency management efforts related to the campus unrest sparked by pro-Palestinian demonstration activities. Prior to this, the union representing the university’s campus police criticized UCLA’s management for a “lack of response” to the violent incidents.
Wade Stern, the President of the Federated University Police Officers Association, stated at a press conference, “The university’s management is solely responsible for the response to campus protest activities, and they will bear all consequences of their actions.”