Person arrested and removed from pro-Palestine camp at UC Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine campus police have arrested a person who exhibited “erratic behavior” and was involved in an altercation with members of a pro-Palestinian camp, officials said.

According to a statement from the university, the person, whose age and gender were not disclosed, was arrested on Friday on suspicion of illegal camping and expelled from campus.

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“The individual had joined an unsanctioned encampment set up on campus property but had no connection to the student protesters or other non-members who attended the encampment,” the UC Irvine statement said.

“The individual exhibited erratic behavior, including a physical altercation with members of the encampment, and continued to pose a danger to residents of the encampment as well as general members of the campus community. The individual was arrested outside of the unauthorized encampment.

“Earlier this week, members of Be Well OC’s Mobile Crisis Response Team, a team dedicated to responding to mental health-related calls and providing direct psychological assistance, were deployed to the scene. The individual declined any services from Be Well OC Team,” the statement concluded.

The university “continues to call for a peaceful and rapid end to this camp,” the school said.

Earlier this week, school officials said the encampment, located near Rowland Hall, “continues to be peaceful, although we are seeing reports of students expressing concerns about discrimination and harassment, as well as reports of disruptive protests that have occurred.” disrupting teaching and taking exams. “There have been some reports of vandalism and there is a wider spread of messages on university campuses this afternoon.”