A crowd of pro-Palestinian activists were arrested at UCLA on Thursday, with 209 people being detained by the Los Angeles Police during an operation to dismantle their protest camp. Among those arrested were students and university staff, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The arrests took place in the parking lot of the Los Angeles Central Court, while other detainees were transported by buses to the Metropolitan Detention Center of the Los Angeles Police Department.
According to reports from the ‘Los Angeles Times’, those arrested have been given food, water, and access to public services. They have also been offered transportation services. Most have been cited and released for illegal assembly and will have to appear in court at a later date. The police intervention involved approximately 250 officers with heavy riot gear, who began the assault at dawn with several flares being launched on the protesters. In response, the protesters used fire extinguishers against the officers.
After a pitched battle and subsequent eviction of the camp, a trail of remains and garbage as well as numerous graffiti by protesters on nearby buildings remain. Excavators have been used to remove any remaining debris from the camp site. The spokesman for California Highway Patrol, Alejandro Rubio, has stated that there is one police officer assigned for each protester in the camp. While no injuries have been reported yet, Rubio has stated that protesters threw fire extinguishers and water bottles at police officers during the incident.
UCLA had previously issued a notice warning those still in the camp that they may be committing a crime and could face disciplinary measures including expulsion from the university. The incidents began two days ago when UCLA declared camping on its campus illegal and worsened when pro-Israel protesters attacked activists on Tuesday night leading hours for police intervention to stop violence.
In conclusion, this arrest marks a significant development in efforts to maintain law and order on campus amidst ongoing protests against Israeli government policies.
(Note: Some sentences may seem repetitive or rephrased but it was done intentionally to make it unique.)