Pro-Palestinian protesters linked arms and surrounded a Los Angeles Police Department vehicle during a tense standoff on the University of Southern California campus on Wednesday, according to multiple social media videos.
ABC’s Josh Haskell said the skirmish appeared to turn violent as police wrested tents and tarps from protesters, some of whom were not even students.
At the University of Southern California, protesters, all of whom are not students, confront campus police in an extremely ugly situation. pic.twitter.com/CfmFcBAplD
— Josh Haskell (@abc7JoshHaskell) April 24, 2024
According to Angie Orellana Hernandez of the LA Times, the police car was believed to be carrying a student who had been taken into custody by police.
.@USC Students prevent a car carrying a detained student from leaving the square. pic.twitter.com/S3fmM3qLNP
— Angie (@angorellanah) April 24, 2024
Police finally released the student after the car was blocked for more than 20 minutes, according to Fox 11 LA’s Skycam footage posted on YouTube.
The students then signaled for the protesters to leave and make way for police cars. When the detainees begged to be moved, the students appeared to comply. (Related: Columbia University faculty organize walkout on behalf of pro-Palestinian protesters)
The video posted by Hernandez on Twitter appears to show the moment police detained the student in question.
Police raise baton at University of Southern California pic.twitter.com/6tkawS2x07
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 24, 2024
Police and USC public safety officers surrounded the student suspect, who was wearing a symbolic bright yellow vest in both videos, as colleagues brandished batons to keep other protesters at bay and dragged the detainee away. Ta.
The unrest on the University of Southern California campus mirrored protests on campuses across the country, including Columbia University, the University of Texas at Austin, Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of Michigan.
