- Chaos and arrests erupt at US college campuses, notably UCLA.
- Police intervene to dismantle protest camps, resulting in numerous arrests.
- President Biden condemns violence while affirming the right to protest.
Eko hot blog reports that In a dramatic turn of events, police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters across several college campuses on Thursday, Biden culminating in the dismantling of an encampment at UCLA.
The scenes were tense, marking a surge of unrest that has gripped universities throughout the week.
Under the cover of darkness, police donned helmets and moved swiftly to dismantle a tent city erected at the University of California in Los Angeles.
Chaos erupts as U.S campuses collapses
Flash bangs and riot gear were deployed as officers pushed through lines of protesters, many of whom linked arms in defiance.
The crackdown resulted in the arrest of hundreds at UCLA and other institutions.
“I’m a student here,” one protester identified as Ryan pleaded with cameras as he was escorted away in restraints.
“Please don’t fail us. Don’t fail us.”
Despite the arrests, the resolve among protesters remained unshaken.
Ryan, who was later cited for unlawful assembly, affirmed, “We will be back.
We will be disrupting. We will be demanding divestment.”
The protests at universities across the nation are in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Demonstrators are calling on President Joe Biden to take a stronger stance against the violence and urging educational institutions to divest from companies supporting the Israeli government.
The escalation prompted many universities, including Columbia University in New York City, to call in law enforcement to quell the demonstrations.
Chaos erupts as U.S campuses collapses
President Biden, breaking his silence on the matter after the UCLA raid, emphasized the right to protest but condemned violence.
“Destroying property is not a peaceful protest,” he asserted from the White House. “It’s against the law.”
Amid criticisms from both ends of the political spectrum, Biden navigates carefully on his Israel policy as he faces re-election in November.
At UCLA, police repeatedly warned demonstrators to disperse before taking action.
Stun grenades echoed across the campus as officers clashed with protesters, illustrating the intensity of the confrontation.