In summary

CalMatters’ Sergio Olmos documented two dramatic days at UCLA that culminated in the university dismantling a pro-Palestine encampment. Here’s a look at what he saw.

A night of violence at UCLA led the university and Los Angeles law enforcement agencies to demolish a pro-Palestine encampment where students and others had gathered for a week to protest Israel’s war in Gaza. 

The tension escalated late Tuesday when counterprotesters arrived at the encampment and began tearing at barricades, beating pro-Palestine protesters and harassing them with fireworks and pepper spray. Police did not intervene immediately, waiting hours before moving in and separating the groups. 

On Wednesday, UCLA declared the encampment to be unlawful and announced that it would clear the site. Law enforcement agencies returned in force that night and cleared the encampment early Thursday. They used loud flash bangs and fired projectiles into crowds to disperse the protesters. 

CalMatters reporter Sergio Olmos captured some of the violence and the camp-clearing that unfolded this week. Here’s a look at what he and other visual journalists saw.

April 30: Counter protesters arrive at UCLA

Groups of pro-Palestinian protesters gather at an entrance to their encampment at UCLA on the late evening of May 1, 2024. Law enforcement would eventually clear the encampment on the morning of May 2, 2024. Photo by Ted Soqui, CalMatters
Groups of pro-Palestinian protesters gather at an entrance to their encampment at UCLA on the late evening of May 1, 2024. Law enforcement would eventually clear the encampment on the morning of May 2, 2024. Photo by Ted Soqui, CalMatters

May 2: Police demolish UCLA protest camp

UCLA and University of California leaders condemned the violence that broke out Tuesday night and laid plans to take down the encampment. 

“However one feels about the encampment, this attack on our students, faculty and community members was utterly unacceptable,” UCLA Chancellor Gene Block wrote in a statement. “It has shaken our campus to its core and — adding to other abhorrent incidents that we have witnessed and that have circulated on social media over the past several days — further damaged our community’s sense of security.”

Law enforcement agencies took down the camp by the following day. UCLA reported that 300 people left the encampment voluntarily, “while more than 200 resisted orders to disperse and were arrested.”

Police enter an encampment set up by pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the UCLA campus during the early morning of May 2, 2024. Photo Jae C. Hong, AP Photo
Police enter an encampment set up by pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the UCLA campus during the early morning of May 2, 2024. Photo Jae C. Hong, AP Photo