Arrested UCLA protesters were equipped with heavy pipes, bolt cutters and chains – and had a plan to occupy the campus building, police say

WESTWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A group of 44 protesters arrested on the UCLA campus early Monday were armed with bolt cutters, superglue, padlocks and other items that suggested they intended to vandalize and occupy a building on campus , the police said on Wednesday.

The startling new details were revealed in a statement from UCLA Police, which revealed that the group also carried printed materials such as “The Do-It-Yourself Occupation Guide,” despite social media posts about the Moore occupation Hall of the school were required.

The 44 arrested included 35 UCLA students and nine people unaffiliated with the school. Forty-two of them were arrested for conspiracy to commit a felony and two for obstructing a peace officer. Four members of the group had previously been arrested for failing to disperse when authorities cleared the camps on May 2.

The police statement does not indicate which cause the group supported, but there were ongoing pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus and there were clashes with counter-demonstrator groups for at least one night.

43 protesters arrested at UCLA as school shifts classes to remote learning for a week

“Violence and vandalism”

The arrests — and two related incidents nearby — occurred just before 6 a.m. Monday.

The police were informed about a large group of people in parking lot 2 of the school. When campus police arrived, they encountered a group of about 40 people wearing masks and carrying metal pipes.

After restraining the group with cable ties, officers discovered they were in possession of various tools, including heavy-duty metal pipes, bolt cutters, epoxy glue, superglue, padlocks, heavy-duty chains and “documentation that promotes violence and vandalism.”

Police said the group hatched a plan to break into and occupy Moore Hall.

When the group was arrested, another group of about 30 people was already in Moore Hall, and police discovered that a UCLA student group was calling to occupy the building. Police repeatedly announced that the building was closed and everyone inside had to leave. Eventually, about 60 people left the building.

It is believed that the same group marched on Dodd Hall later that morning and caused a disturbance that interrupted midterm exams. More protesters were outside and eventually they all marched to Bruin Plaza and eventually dispersed.

aftermath

Following the arrests, which came after days of unrest on campus, the school said all classes would move to remote learning for a week. The students had prepared for the intermediate exams.

Royce Hall and Powell Library will remain closed this week.

“Due to ongoing disruptions, the campus is back in a limited operational state,” the school announced in a BruinAlert. “Therefore, the courses will be moved to distance learning from May 6th to 10th in accordance with the Senate’s guidelines. Employees who are able to work remotely should consult with their supervisors. Events and research activities should also take place remotely or be postponed if possible.”