Around 80 people arrested after law enforcement raids UC Santa Cruz protesters

Updated at 12:36 p.m.:

Santa Cruz University told KSBW that about 80 protesters were arrested Friday. It is unclear whether they will be charged.

As of 6 a.m., the intersection of Bay and High streets was closed. The university is asking people to avoid the area. The west entrance remains open.

Classes will remain online on Friday.

Updated at 1:30 a.m.:

A video posted on Instagram shows the police approaching the demonstrators, moving their camp and dismantling the tents.

Video showed members of the California Highway Patrol were among the law enforcement officers present. A CHP Santa Cruz spokesperson declined to comment on their involvement.

The video shows the protesters formed a tight group, some standing arm in arm. In addition, the group of demonstrators chanted slogans in defiance of the police presence.

Original article:

Video livestreamed by protesters at the University of California Santa Cruz shows a large police presence surrounding the student encampment Friday night.

The video shows that around midnight, dozens of law enforcement officers arrived at the foot of the UC Santa Cruz campus, where protesters had set up an encampment and blocked the road.

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According to a video broadcast during the demonstration, law enforcement issued several dispersal orders to demonstrators between midnight and 12:45 a.m.

A request for comment from the university on what is currently happening went unanswered.

UC Santa Cruz will continue distance learning Friday.

UC Santa Cruz released the following statement Friday morning:

Following the intentional and dangerous blocking of campus entrances, UC Santa Cruz took steps to remove the barricades and disband the illegal encampment. These actions began early this morning.

For weeks, camp participants received clear and repeated instructions to remove the camp and stop blocking access to many campus resources and the campus itself. They were informed that their actions were illegal and dangerous. And this morning, they also received multiple warnings from law enforcement, asking them to leave the scene and disperse to avoid arrest. Unfortunately, many refused to follow this directive and many people were arrested.

It is imperative that we restore full access to our campus and end other illegal and dangerous actions as protesters continued to disrupt campus operations and threaten safety, even delaying emergency vehicle access . This was impossible without the intervention of law enforcement. These actions could have been avoided if encampment participants had heeded numerous previous directives given by campus officials, firefighters and law enforcement.