The UCLA Divest Coalition and allied organizations are rallying today in Royce Quad to mark 500 days since the beginning of Israel’s war in Gaza and to express solidarity with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) 6 days after UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk moved to suspend SJP and Graduate SJP. In its announcement of the demonstration, UCLA Divest affirmed that “We are all SJP” and called for students to join.
Chancellor Frenk’s statement regarding the suspension cited a protest that took place early on Feb. 5 outside UC Regent Jonathan Sures’s home in Brentwood. In a statement posted to Instagram, SJP wrote that despite this suspension, they “remain steadfast in [their] solidarity with the strong and resilient people of Palestine” and urged community members to “join the struggle to end UCLA’s complicity.” The UCLA Divest Coalition published a letter signed by over 155 organizations earlier today, stating that they “will not abandon Palestine… Your repression only emboldens us.”
This post, updated by members of our News Department, seeks to provide up-to-date information and developments about the SJP demonstration, and will be periodically updated. Throughout the day, The News Department will also maintain immediate, real-time updates on X (formerly Twitter). Access our thread on X here.
Live Feed:
4:51pm – One protestor arrested by UCPD
They were arrested near the Luskin Conference Center after dispersing from the protest.
4:23pm – Protestors have peacefully dispersed from the scene.
Two UCLA Public Safety Aides remain at the plaza.
4:10pm – The last speaker ends their speech, crowds begin to peacefully disperse from Bruin Plaza
The speaker ends the speech urging people to “organize until we are all free.”
“I know anyone arrested or injured in the spring would do it 100 times over if it meant a child in Palestine could live. The very last thing I want you to take away is that the UC Regents have the power to divest. They will be here for a week later this quarter. Come back out and we’ll be doing this again until we win investment”.
3:58pm – Speaker from UC Divest Coalition begins speech
The speaker opens with a poem written by her sister about her paternal family’s experience in the genocide. “The only thing separating me from a body under the rubble is the circumstance of my birth. The only thing separating you is luck.”
3:56pm – Westwood Mutual Aid speaker urges crowd to support AFSCME 3299 strike next week.
Westwood Mutual Aid formed as an offshoot of SJP over the summer.
3:46pm – Banner reading “UC Invests $32,000,000,000 in genocide” hangs from Ashe Center.
UCLA Public Safety Aides filming protestors at the site.
3:45pm – “Stop LAPD Spying” speaker in support of SJP resumes speech.
This speech was halted on Westwood and Charles E Young to prevent police interaction.
3:40pm – Protesters return to central campus
3:34pm – Police officers advance on protesters, protesters retreat.
Some protesters remain at intersection with the officers while most march back to campus via Westwood boulevard. Protesters left wilfully without a dispersal order. One protester heard shouting, “we have a constitutional right to protest.” No physical contact has been made between the two groups.
3:32pm – Approximately 10 police officers on the scene in riot gear.
Officers assume a rectangular formation as protestor yells “shame.”
3:30pm – Pro-Israel counter-protesters attempting to drown out Students for Justice in Palestine speaker at Westwood boulevard and Charles E Young South intersection.
3:21pm – Protesters exit the Engineering IV building at the Luskin bus turnaround area, exiting campus south on Westwood boulevard.
3:19pm – Protest enters Engineering IV building, fire alarm active in this building as well.
Trigger of the fire alarm still unclear.
3:17pm – Fire alarms activated in Boelter Hall, source of trigger unclear.
Despite this interruption, protesters continued to demonstrate.
3:15pm – SJP protesters enter class buildings, Boelter Hall and Mathematical Sciences.
The protest has changed locations yet again, moving away from previous location outside of Murphy Hall to this new location inside Boelter and Mathematical Sciences.
3:05pm – Protesters have begun migrating away from Murphy Hall
3:01pm – Mothers Against College Antisemitism, or MACA, spotted in crowd offering auxiliary support to counter-protestors.
Bee shaped badges on MACA members’ vests and signs distinguish them from other participants and observers in and around the protest.
2:51pm – Students for Justice in Palestine protesters continue to chant in spite of counter-protest.
Currently, “free, free Palestine” chant dominates above all else.
2:43pm – Protesters have mounted the steps to Murphy Hall.
2:37pm – The crowd has begun to march toward Murphy.
Protesters mobilizing away from their initial protest location of Royce quad.
2:36pm – A man holding a “MOSHIACH” flag along with other pro-Israel counter-protesters has integrated into the crowd.
Pro-Israel counter-protesters yell as protesters support Students for Justice in Palestine do not engage.
2:34pm – Public Safety officer on the outside of Powell holds a camcorder camera to presumably video students.
Protesters continue not to engage with outside observers.
2:33pm – Amplified sound raises concerns for UCLA Student Affairs
UCLA Radio reporter overheard claim that UCLA Student Affairs admin is moving to de-escalate the protest due to use of amplified sound.
2:28pm – New Speaker from Students for Justice in Palestine denounces Chancellor Frenk
A speaker from Students for Justice in Palestine reads the organization’s previously released “We Are All Students for Justice in Palestine Official Letter to the UCLA Administration” which was posted on their Instagram page earlier today.
2:21pm – Representative from Palestinian Youth Movement speaking to crowd
The Palestinian Youth Movement representative addresses the crowd of protestors, leading them in a chant, “Free the people, free the land, no peace on stolen land.” Pro-Israel counterprotestors also gather.
2:09pm – UCPD officers arrive at Royce Quad
Around 10 UCPD officers spotted in Royce Quad. No interactions between protestors and police yet.
2:00pm – Students gather in Royce Quad; high security presence at the scene.
A crowd of students is steadily growing at Royce Quad to join the UCLA Divest Coalition’s “We Are All SJP” rally, endorsed by organizations such as National SJP, Palestinian Youth Movement, International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) SoCal, UCLA Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP), and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) at UCLA. CSC security is present at the scene and across campus.
Royce Quad, the site of UCLA’s first Palestine Solidarity Encampment, is not among the areas covered by the university’s controversial Time, Place and Manner (TPM) policies that designate specific locations for “public expression activities.” In an X (formerly Twitter) post released this morning in anticipation of today’s action, UCPD reiterated TPM guidelines for political demonstrations. UCPD arrested four individuals following last November’s student strike for Palestine that was alleged to violate TPM policies, citing disruption of foot traffic.
Contributing reports by:
