As of Thursday, more than 200 protesters participating in a pro-Palestine demonstration on the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus were arrested by the authorities, as reported by sources. Among those detained are Chinese-American students. Republican candidate for the 49th District of California and Chinese-American lawyer, Longzhu Liu, analyzed the possible legal charges the detainees may face. He reminded Chinese-American students to cherish their future and avoid breaking U.S. laws.
UCLA is known for its high percentage of Chinese students, with nearly half of the student body being of Chinese descent in the fall 2023 enrollment. Liu explained that these arrested students were taken to the Central Jail in downtown LA for registration procedures like fingerprinting before being allowed back on campus.
According to available information, Liu believes that a considerable number of Chinese students were among those arrested at UCLA. Apart from UCLA, photos circulating on social media showed Asian faces among the demonstrators in front of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University in New York. The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced the arrest of 109 individuals at Columbia University on May 1st.
Earlier this week, UCLA issued a written warning to protesters pitching tents on the campus grounds that illegal gatherings could lead to disciplinary actions against students, including suspension or expulsion.
On Thursday, ABC 7 interviewed two students who were arrested. They appeared emotionally charged and seemed unconcerned about the potential consequences such as a criminal record, facing expulsion, disciplinary actions, or implications on their student visa status. Longzhu Liu remarked, “The atmosphere feels completely different, they are not low-spirited, not sad, not disappointed, but rather more fired up.”
“I completely understand the students’ passion,” Liu said, having experienced similar situations himself. From the information he gathered, some students were “instigated” to join the protests. He cited an April report in the New York Post stating that radical organizations funded by tycoons, like Soros, were providing allowances ranging from $2,880 to $7,800 for people participating in movements demanding universities cut ties with Israel. A significant proportion of those arrested on campuses like Columbia University and City College of New York were from off-campus.
Liu discovered that there were also Chinese individuals inciting protests. A small poster hung on a tree bore slogans in both Chinese and English: “‘The distant land, countless people, are all related to me’ – Lu Xun.” The signs and accompanying messages read in both languages, “Chinese students stand with Palestine.”
Liu noted that the most probable charges for the arrested students at Columbia University, University of Southern California, and UCLA would be “trespassing on private property.” Hamilton Hall is an academic building at Columbia University, which was forcefully occupied by protesters, leading the NYPD to clear the area and arrest hundreds of students on April 30th.
California Penal Code section 602K sets forth the crime of “trespassing on private property.” Some might interpret it as illegal only if entering a clearly marked “no trespassing” zone, which is not entirely accurate.
Liu explained that if a school explicitly prohibits entry into a certain area during a specific time frame and someone enters, they are breaking the law. For instance, if the university states that you must leave the premises after midnight, failing to comply would be a deliberate violation, breaking the “unlawful entry” regulation.
Furthermore, during the time when the school requests evacuation, if protesters engage in physical altercations, they could face heightened charges of “disturbing the peace”; if they engage in altercations with police, they might even be charged with “assaulting an officer.” Liu stressed, “These are severe offenses.”
Some students may believe that attending protests is an exercise of free speech. Liu warned that free speech does not equate to freedom of action, stating that entering restricted areas or standing where one should not can constitute trespassing charges. He further emphasized that even if you are standing beside someone breaking the law, you could potentially face criminal charges for “aiding and abetting a trespasser.”
Moreover, in terms of free speech, promoting violence or attempting to overthrow the U.S. government is not protected speech.
Prestigious American universities are highly esteemed by Chinese families, which Liu understands very well. He respects everyone’s viewpoints but hopes that Chinese students do not jeopardize their future due to inadvertent legal violations.
Liu highlighted, “You are the hope of your entire family, the result of your parents’ hard work. Chinese students must be vigilant and not make irreversible mistakes for a small gain or be misled by ‘Lu Xun’ and become sacrificial victims.” ◇