Group of protesters sets up camp in favor of Palestine at UCLA

a group of protesters They began to build a new pro-Palestinian camp this Thursday morning on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

At approximately 8:00 am, At the university, a barricade could be seen erected in a courtyard near Moore Hallwhich blocked access to a section of the campus, which was guarded by several people wearing brightly colored vests.

Behind the barricade some tents had already been set up.

Shortly after noon, law enforcement could be observed approaching the campus possibly with the intention of removing the new camp set up by the protest groups.

Keep reading: UCLA returns to in-person classes after weeks of pro-Palestine protests

It was reported that some university classes They moved from in-person learning to remote sessions.

At the moment, it seems that the university authorities They were allowing protesters to occupy that area.

This incident occurs as UCLA Chancellor Gene Block testifies before the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee about the events that occurred late last month when violence broke out at a pro-Palestinian camp that was allowed to grow for several days.

“The Committee has a clear message for melancholy and cowardly university leaders: Congress will not tolerate you abandoning your duties to your Jewish students.“Committee Chairwoman Rep. Virginia Foxx said in a statement.

Keep reading: Protesters arrested in UCLA parking lot; university returns to remote classes

“No stone should be left unturned as buildings are defaced, campus green spaces are captured or graduations are ruined“he added.

that camp forced to cancel in-person classes on campus and prevented students from accessing some areas of the university, such as the library, as final exams approached.

Some students mentioned that The protesters asked them if they were “Zionists”and if they answered affirmatively, they were denied access.

Keep reading: More than 200 people arrested during pro-Palestine camp removal at UCLA

The tension is over amid a violent clash between protesters and groups of pro-Israel counterprotesters April 30.

People who made up groups of counterprotesters threw traffic cones and fired pepper spray in a confrontation that lasted for several hours before the police intervenedwhich drew severe criticism from Muslim students, political leaders and advocacy groups.

In a statement, Rector Block advanced the topics he would present before the House of Representatives committee, in Washington.

Keep reading: “Dark Chapter”: Day of violence and tension on UCLA campus after attack on protesters

Block reaffirmed that all forms of discrimination based on origin, identity, ethnicity, race or religion were completely rejected by the values ​​of the university.

“We are committed to fostering a campus environment where every individual can thrive, free from fear and exclusion“Block said in his statement.

“However, a recent increase in incidents of legally protected but hate speech (whether anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, anti-Arab or otherwise) underscores the fundamental tension that can arise when an institution is committed to both safeguarding free expression under the First Amendment and preventing discrimination, which violates the law”, said.

Keep reading: Pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israeli groups have more clashes at UCLA

The rector mentioned that That is the objective behind many of the measures that UCLA is taking to address discrimination, to strengthen campus security, and to hold individuals accountable for recent criminal activity.

Keep reading:
· Activists and academics call for dialogue at the University of Southern California
· Protesters clash on UCLA campus in protests against military actions in Gaza
· Los Angeles Police issue tactical alert in the city due to pro-Palestinian demonstration at USC