“This situation has spiraled into complete chaos,” reported Taylor Schaub, a journalist for Spectrum News, as she stood on the UCLA campus on Sunday. A peaceful Pro-Israel demonstration had been planned, but things took a dramatic turn when pro-Palestinian protesters managed to breach the police barrier separating the two groups. Confrontations quickly erupted, leading to multiple altercations.”
UCLA spokesperson, Mary Osako, expressed that earlier today, a barrier established by the university to separate two groups of protestors on campus was breached by a group of demonstrators. This breach resulted in physical altercations. Osako stated that UCLA has always been known as a place of peaceful protest, and they are deeply saddened by the outbreak of violence.
Incidents during the protests were caught on livestreams and social media accounts, showcasing a clash between two groups armed with signs and flags. In the midst of it all, the Star Spangled Banner played in the background.
Videos capturing the ongoing events at the scene have been widely shared on social media, even after the scheduled end of the pro-Israel rally in the afternoon.
At the time of this posting, the protests are ongoing despite the arrival of police in riot gear.
Reporting from the scene this afternoon, Spectrum News’s Schaub witnessed the events unfold. He described how the pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to enter the pro-Israeli area, engaging in pushing, shoving, and even physical altercations. As a result, they managed to occupy the other half of the grass lawn. Both sides are currently engaged in a heated exchange, with shouting, name-calling, and occasional skirmishes occurring.
