
Police were called to the University of California at Irvine to disperse a Gaza camp that had been set up by students and activists, resulting in multiple arrests. The camp, located in the Physical Sciences Lecture Hall, was cleared on Wednesday afternoon after demonstrators attempted to erect tents on campus grounds.
THEATER KIDS
This is like a bad keffiyeh adaptation of Les Miserables
At @UCIrvine far-left rioters are setting up a barricade made of garbage & tents to protect the Little Gaza encampment
I think they are taking the lyrics of the musical too literally
🎶Some will fall and… pic.twitter.com/v9pIMEtqtg
— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) May 16, 2024
According to reports from KTLA, students barricaded themselves in the lecture hall before venturing outside to pitch tents around 2:30 p.m. The gathering was deemed an unlawful assembly, prompting law enforcement officers from various agencies to create a skirmish line near the demonstrators.
🚨Drone footage of full violent clashes between police and protestors at UC Irvine. @TodayisAmerica has made it possible for me to document these protests. pic.twitter.com/W2gkuJScDq
— Cam Higby 🇺🇸 (@camhigby) May 16, 2024
Local law enforcement, including the Irvine Police Department and Orange County Sheriff’s Department, responded to the scene following a call from the university. The campus had been occupied by anti-Israel protesters since April 29, with activists entering buildings and erecting barricades.
In response to the situation, UC Irvine issued a statement advising individuals in the vicinity of the protest to exit buildings and leave the area immediately. The university later canceled classes for the remainder of the day and transitioned to fully remote instruction for the following day.
zotALERT: All UCI classes are canceled for today 5/15/24. Staff are advised to work remotely for tomorrow 5/16/24.
Please continue to avoid the protest area.
For more information please visit https://t.co/IEqIP7afn7
— UC Irvine (@UCIrvine) May 15, 2024
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer emphasized the constitutional right to peaceful assembly in a statement posted to X, but warned against criminal activity such as violence and vandalism. He stated that any evidence of criminal behavior would be thoroughly investigated.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer Issues Statement on UCI Protest
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is continuing to work with law enforcement to monitor all protest-related activity in Orange County, including today’s protest— OCDA Todd Spitzer (@OCDAToddSpitzer) May 16, 2024
After police activity concluded, UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman addressed the situation in a statement, expressing disappointment at the escalation of events. Gillman had initially sought to avoid police intervention but deemed it necessary following the protesters’ actions, which he described as a direct assault on the rights of other students and the university’s mission.
Gillman reaffirmed the university’s commitment to protecting the rights of all community members to express their viewpoints while condemning efforts to suppress academic freedom and free speech.