The University of Southern California announced it would close its campus “until further notice” after Wednesday’s large anti-Israel protests ended with 93 people arrested.
Lt. Kelly Muniz said Wednesday night on X (formerly Twitter) that Los Angeles police arrived on campus around 4 p.m. after the agitators did not comply with the university’s request to leave the area.
After several hours of clashes between campus police and the Los Angeles Police Department, the protest ended with 93 people arrested for trespassing.
“We haven’t decided yet whether they will be fired or not. If and when they are fired, it will be a misdemeanor. They will be fired and they will go through a booking process,” Muniz said. he said, adding that the process was “long”.
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The University of Southern California has closed its campus “until further notice” after large-scale anti-Israel protests called Solidarity Occupy Gaza sparked clashes with police and resulted in a total of 94 arrests on Wednesday. Closed to no visitors. (Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY)
Muniz said there were altercations in some of the protest areas and one person was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. She did not reveal what the murder weapon was or details about the incident, but she said the remaining agitators in the area dispersed after her arrest.
Asked if anyone was injured during the demonstrations, Muniz said he was not aware of any agitators or police officers being injured.
The University of Southern California has asked the Los Angeles Police Department to arrest instigators of a large anti-Israel protest on campus for trespassing after they refused to leave the area. (Reuters/Zaidi Sanchez)
The university announced at 11:58 p.m., when the protests were declared over, that the campus would be closed “until further notice.”
USC said, “The protest against the UPC has ended. However, the campus remains closed until further notice. Students, faculty, staff, and those with business on campus may enter with proper identification.” ” he tweeted.
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The protest, called “Gaza Solidarity Occupation,” began on Wednesday morning and was one of many similar demonstrations taking place on college campuses across the United States.
Following anti-Israel protests at USC on Wednesday, Los Angeles police arrested 93 people on charges of trespassing and one person on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. (Reuters/Zaidi Sanchez)
In a letter to the campus community Wednesday afternoon, University of Southern California President Andrew Guzman said that while the university supports students’ freedom of expression, there are guidelines that must be followed in order to demonstrate. He said that there is.
“We have established policies regarding restrictions on the time, place, and manner of freedom of expression,” Guzmán wrote. “This includes prohibitions on setting up tents or other encampments, using loudspeakers, marking poles or stakes, or interfering with classes or other essential university functions.”
He added that the protest outside Doheny Library, “in the heart of academic buildings,” appeared to involve many people not affiliated with the university.
Guzman said the University of Southern California’s guidelines for protests do not allow for “tents or other encampments, the use of loudspeakers, signs on utility poles or stakes, or disruption of classes or other essential university functions.” said. (Reuters/Zaidi Sanchez)
The agitators were “repeatedly” asked by security to remove their tents and other prohibited items and move to a “compliant location,” but they refused, and the university ultimately requested reinforcements from the Los Angeles Police Department. Became.
“Their actions escalated to vandalism that damaged campus buildings and structures, and even physical confrontations that threatened the safety of staff and the campus community,” Guzman wrote.
He said the decision to close the gates to the campus to unauthorized visitors “until further notice” was made to “curb the spread of protests and maintain calm on the rest of campus.” He said that he was injured. This closure does not affect students, staff, or anyone else with proper USC identification.
University of Southern California President Andrew Guzman said the decision to close the campus to unauthorized visitors was made to “curb the spread of protests and maintain calm on the rest of campus.” . (Reuters/Zaidi Sanchez)
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Guzman concluded his letter by reminding students that the University of Southern California “refuses.”[s] Hateful and harmful statements that cause harm to others. ”
“During this difficult time, we want to remind the Trojan family that every member of our community deserves respect and is safe on campus, attending classes, and attending campus without fear of harassment or bullying. “We call on everyone to remember their right to participate in other activities. Treating each other with kindness and compassion should be everyone’s priority,” he wrote.
