Protests at UCLA: At least 27 people arrested after pro-Palestinian encampments form on campus, police say

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A total of 27 people were arrested Monday after setting up several pro-Palestinian encampments on the UCLA campus, which police declared illegal, according to a statement from UCLA leaders.

At least six members of the University of California Police Department and other security officers were injured in clashes with protesters, including one person with a head injury, said Rick Braziel, associate vice chancellor of UCLA for Campus Safety, in a statement Tuesday.

UCPD Capt. Scott Scheffler said at least five of those arrested reported minor injuries, including soreness, bruising and shoulder pain.

As a result of the encampments, the group damaged a fountain, spray-painted brick walkways, tampered with fire safety equipment, damaged patio furniture, removed electrical wires and vandalized vehicles, police said in a communicated.

University officials are still trying to determine how many of the 27 people arrested are students, but those who are will be subject to disciplinary action, Braziel said.

“It was totally unacceptable,” Braziel said. “The protest activity disregarded our values ​​as a community, violated our campus policies, and broke the law. These actions injured people, threatened the safety of our community, and vandalized our campus.

As protests spread to college campuses this spring to denounce Israel's handling of its war against Hamas in Gaza, the UCLA campus transformed into a scene of brutality on April 30 when violent counter -protesters attacked pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

A CNN analysis found that some of the most dramatic attacks filmed that night were committed by people outside UCLA — not the university students and faculty who were ultimately arrested.

But on Monday, a group of about 100 people associated with a registered student organization at UCLA set up an encampment atop the Janss Steps around 3:15 p.m., UCPD said.

The group resisted leaving the area after initial warnings, but left after UCPD issued several dispersal orders. The demonstrators moved to the Kerckhoff terrace, where they “set up an unauthorized and illegal encampment with tents, awnings and barricades with terrace furniture,” police said.

The group also entered Moore Hall and disrupted final exams nearby, police said.

Another set of dispersal orders led the group to the courtyard between Dodd Hall and the law school, where they set up a third encampment, police said.

UCLA associate professor Graeme Blair, a member of the Palestine Justice Faculty, said a student went to the hospital after being injured by a rubber bullet — which Blair said had was fired while the students were in the camp near Dodd Hall, the Los Angeles Times reported. . Blair, who participated in the protests, criticized authorities, saying students followed dispersal orders throughout the evening. CNN has contacted Blair for comment.

A UC police representative declined to comment on the arrests or say whether “less than lethal” weapons were used, the Times reported.

UCLA police did not respond Tuesday to CNN's request for comment on the arrests and whether rubber bullets were used.

On Monday evening, around 25 people were arrested around 8 p.m. for intentionally disrupting the functioning of the university, the police statement said.

These individuals were cited, given a 14-day restraining order from UCLA premises and released, police said.

Another person had already been arrested when the first camp was set up for obstructing a police officer. That person was cited and released, UCPD said.

About 150 protesters were still in the area as of 10:30 p.m. Monday.

The university expects more protests at various locations during commencement ceremonies, but it “will not tolerate violence,” Braziel said, adding that the university's policies “support advocacy that does not endangers security or disrupts the functioning of the university.

“Protecting UCLA faculty, staff, students and visitors and creating an environment conducive to teaching, learning, working and living remains our priority. The University community belongs to all of us, and we must set an example of the respect we expect from others,” Braziel said.

Tensions have simmered on the UCLA campus over how the university has responded to protesters and counterprotesters in recent months. Faculty members are divided over whether Chancellor Gene Block “failed to keep our students safe and seriously mishandled events.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNN's Amanda Musa contributed to this report.