About 25 people arrested at UCLA as group tries to set up protest camp, university police say – Finger Lakes Daily News

(LOS ANGELES) — About 25 people were arrested Monday evening while trying to set up a tent encampment on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, university police said in a statement.

“The individuals are being cited, issued 14-day orders to stay away from UCLA properties and are being released,” the UCLA Police Department said. “According to the latest update, approximately 150 protesters remain in the area. »

The arrests followed a series of tense days in late April and early May on the school campus, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators had created a large encampment surrounded by plywood and metal barricades. Counterprotesters clashed with the group on at least one occasion.

Police from several departments descended on the previous encampment on May 2, arresting dozens of protesters and dismantling tents and barricades.

About 100 people marched on campus Monday afternoon, entering at least one room and disrupting a final exam, police said.

The group, which was associated with a registered student organization, also set up “unauthorized and illegal” encampments in several locations around campus. They used “tents, awnings and barricades with patio furniture,” police said.

University officials asked the group to leave two locations — the Janss Steps and the Kerckhoff Patio — and the group complied, police said.

By early evening, the group had headed toward the courtyard between Dodd Hall and the law school, where they were seen assembling another tent encampment, police said.

“The group restricted access to the general public in violation of university policy and also disrupted final exams nearby,” police said in a statement.

About 25 people were arrested under a California law prohibiting “willful disruption of university operations,” police said.

Another person was arrested for obstructing a police officer as the group set up their first camp, police said. That person was cited and released, police said.

“As a result of the unauthorized and illegal encampments at all three sites, the group damaged the Shapiro Fountain, spray painted brick walkways, tampered with fire safety equipment, damaged patio furniture, removed wires from electrical appliances and vandalized the vehicles,” police said. said.

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