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

(LOS ANGELES) — About 25 people were arrested Monday night as they attempted to set up a tent camp on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, university police said in a statement.

“The individuals are currently being cited, banned from UCLA for 14 days, and released,” the UCLA Police Department said. “According to the latest information, there are approximately 150 protesters still in the area.”

The arrests follow a series of tense days on the university’s campus in late April and early May, where pro-Palestinian protesters had set up a sprawling camp surrounded by plywood and metal barricades, and counter-protesters had clashed with the group on at least one occasion.

On May 2, police from several departments entered the former camp, arrested dozens of protesters and dismantled the tents and barricades.

On Monday afternoon, around 100 people marched through the campus, entered at least one hall and disrupted a final exam, police said.

The group, which was linked to a registered student organization, also set up “unauthorized and illegal” camps at several locations on campus, using “tents, canopies and barricades with lawn furniture,” police said.

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

By early evening, the group had made their way to the courtyard between Dodd Hall and the law school, where they were seen setting up another tent camp, police reported.

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

About 25 people were arrested under a California law that prohibits the “intentional disruption of university operations,” police said.

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

“As a result of the unauthorized and illegal encampment at the three locations, the group damaged the Shapiro Fountain, sprayed paint on brick walkways, tampered with fire protection equipment, damaged lawn furniture, ripped wires from electrical systems and vandalized vehicles,” police said.

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