No arrests as Los Angeles police clear USC pro-Palestinian encampment
The Los Angeles Police Department announced that no arrests were made when they evacuated an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Southern California on Sunday, following arrests and unrest at universities across the United States due to the Gaza war.
Other universities, which organise graduation ceremonies, prepared to face more protests after the police arrested dozens.
Police said that after the University of Southern California requested assistance, forces stormed the camp at approximately 5 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and began removing the tents while the students left the place quietly.
Protests inside universities have emerged as a new political flashpoint this year, which is witnessing the holding of the US presidential elections.
Police arrested more than 2,000 protesters at dozens of colleges across the United States. Mitch Landrieu, co-chair of the campaign to elect President Joe Biden for a new term, said on Sunday that Senator Bernie Sanders’ statements, in which he likened university protests to demonstrations that occurred during the Vietnam War, were “exaggerated.”
He added: This is an entirely different situation. However, this does not mean that these protests are not a very serious matter. Many universities, including Columbia University in New York City, called in the police to suppress the demonstrations.
Students and other protesters are calling on universities to cut their financial ties with Israel and press for a ceasefire. Last month, Los Angeles police arrested 93 people at the University of Southern California after they evacuated a previous camp.
Police said that synagogues in New York received at least four bomb threats earlier this week, but none of them were proven true. We will not tolerate individuals who sow fear and anti-Semitism,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote on X late Saturday night. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.
The war was sparked after an attack carried out by gunmen from the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel, which it said led to the killing of 1,200 Israelis and foreigners and the kidnapping of 252 hostages, 133 of whom are believed to be still in captivity.
Health authorities in the Gaza Strip indicate that the subsequent and ongoing Israeli attack has led to the death of more than 34,600 Palestinians so far and the destruction of large parts of the Gaza Strip.
The police in Los Angeles didn’t arrest anyone when they cleared out the protest camp at USC supporting Palestine, and this behaviour clearly shows they’re trying to handle the situation carefully.
The decision not to resort to arrests may reflect a strategic effort to prevent escalation and maintain peace means the immediate problem is solved. It also shows that it’s tough to balance people’s right to speak out with keeping everyone safe because not arresting anyone might be a way to stop things from getting worse and keep things peaceful.
It emphasises that there’s still a lot of tension around the Israel-Palestine issue, especially in a big city like Los Angeles.
