Early Tuesday, we brought you the story of a mother of a Jewish student at UCLA who requested help from UCLA police for her son, who was prevented from getting to class by Hamas sympathizers who have taken over a portion of central campus. She was told that UCLA PD was not going to interfere with the "protesters." At that point, there had been sporadic incidents of violence, and by Tuesday afternoon UCLA administrators declared the encampment "unlawful" and said that the antisemitic actions of some participants would not be tolerated.
🚨BREAKING🚨 UCLA has declared camp unlawful, and protestors are engaging in “self defense” training right now according to their telegram group. pic.twitter.com/JUxvpXxFRK
— Cam Higby 🇺🇸 (@camhigby) May 1, 2024
Independent journalist Anthony Cabassa (who was assaulted by pro-Hamas activists earlier in the day) obtained drone footage of the encampment showing protesters being trained in hand-to-hand combat around the same time, "as LAPD expected to tear down the encampment as soon as tonight, and potential fights with police expected."
BREAKING🚨: Using a drone I was able to get EXCLUSIVE UCLA Pro Palestine encampment footage. They are TRAINING protestors in hand to hand combat as LAPD expected to tear down the encampment as soon as tonight, and potential fights with police expected.
— Anthony Cabassa (@AnthonyCabassa_) May 1, 2024
The school has deemed the… pic.twitter.com/SmLSX6cPjG
On Tuesday evening, pro-Israeli counter-protesters started playing music outside the encampment, then professional agitators streamed onto campus and shot off fireworks toward the encampment and violence ensued.
By 11 PM, private security officers abandoned their posts, and UCLA PD was nowhere to be found.
BREAKING 🚨: SECURITY HAS ABANDONED THEIR POSTS, Armed men now fighting and launching items at each other from either side of the encampment. Total chaos, there’s ZERO police presence. pic.twitter.com/mHtgHivjlY
— Anthony Cabassa (@AnthonyCabassa_) May 1, 2024
#UCLA there’s no police stopping the fights that are happening this evening at 11:46 pm Pacific. pic.twitter.com/4bOj8qsNUz
— NONBidenary (@KellyLMcCarty) May 1, 2024
Just after midnight Pacific, Cabassa reported that there was still no law enforcement presence.
UCLA UPDATE 🚨: Still ZERO law enforcement present, dozens of people needing medical assistance, and this man appears to be bleeding profusely in his right arm. Security ordered to stand down, no LAPD presence. A Jewish woman said multiple men assaulted her, no security help. pic.twitter.com/32pMZqtLCa
— Anthony Cabassa (@AnthonyCabassa_) May 1, 2024
Around 12:15 am Pacific Fox LA's Marla Tellez announced that UCLA PD has requested mutual aid from LAPD. Anarchy and violence are continuing, and as of 12:45 AM Pacific neither UCLA PD or LAPD were on scene, and the private security officers were standing on a staircase observing.
This is a developing story. We will bring you updates as warranted.
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