College protests updates: UCLA police declare encampment is an 'unlawful gathering'

Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza.

Many pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on the campuses have called the protests antisemitic and said they are scared for their safety.

The student protests -- some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments -- have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University in New York City. Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California and more have launched protests .

Latest Developments

_{May 1, 10:29 PM}

UCLA announces remote classes through the end of the week

UCLA's public safety department said in an alert Wednesday night that all on campus classes were "required to pivot to remote" through the end of the week.

The announcement comes after overnight protests turned violent, injuring 15 and sending one person to the hospital, university officials previously confirmed.

Campus operations will be limited on Thursday and Friday, the public safety department said in its evening update.

"We have a large law enforcement presence stationed throughout campus to help promote safety," the department said. "Student Affairs will have essential staff on campus to support our students."

_{May 1, 11:05 PM}

UCLA police declare encampment is an 'unlawful gathering,' order demonstrators to leave

Police at UCLA have announced to the gathered crowd that the encampment on campus is an "unlawful gathering."

Demonstrators have been ordered to leave by the LAPD, according to KABC 7.

UCLA is broadcasting a message of its own, telling protesters to disperse. The message, which appears to be recorded, says those who don't leave will be subject to administrative action.

_{May 1, 8:56 PM}

'This is just the beginning': Columbia and CUNY students vow to keep 'fighting'

During a press conference on Wednesday evening, student protestors from Columbia University and City University of New York responded to the intervention of the NYPD to dismantle encampments and suspend and arrest hundreds of protesters across both universities last night and today.

"We will not stop fighting. This is just the beginning," Cameron Jones of Columbia’s Justice for Palestine chapter said.

Corinna Mullin, a member of CUNY faculty, joined the press conference and called the students "brave" and said that the administration actions against its own students was "shameful."

The students from Columbia and CUNY vowed to continue their efforts, saying, "The more they will try to silence us, the louder we will be."

- ABC News' Camilla Alcini

_{May 1, 8:08 PM}

NYPD arrests 15 people for misdemeanor trespassing at Fordham University

After authorizing NYPD officers to move on the Fordham University to clear an "unlawful encampment" in a campus building on Wednesday, the institution said 15 individuals were arrested for misdemeanor trespassing.

In a statement Wednesday evening, Fordham University said several dozens of people pushed inside the lobby of the Lowenstein building and set up tents.

Most individuals left the encampment after "threats of conduct sanctions" but the remaining 15 people were arrested, according to the statement, which notes, "We believe some of those were Fordham students."

"We met with student leaders as recently as yesterday, readily agreeing to allow them to present their case about divestment and transparency to trustees and our chief investment officer," the university said, adding, "We remain committed to that process."

_{May 1, 7:54 PM}

Why LAPD did not intervene in violent UCLA protests sooner: Sources

The LAPD and California Highway Patrol are facing backlash over not intervening in the UCLA protests sooner, as violence broke out overnight, however, law enforcement sources told ABC News the hesitancy came from jurisdiction over the campus.

The LAPD and CHP don’t have jurisdiction over UCLA and cannot unilaterally race in because UCLA has its own full-fledged police department and dispatch center, sources said.

The delay, as described by sources, was due to UCLA and its police department not authorizing a response.

UCLA’s limited police force was overwhelmed and tried to deal with the protest internally, according to sources, until the call to the LAPD and CHP was eventually made.

The protests led to 15 injuries, including one hospitalization, according to officials.

-ABC News' Alex Stone

_{May 1, 7:06 PM}

'These were not peaceful protesters': Columbia official addresses 202 arrests

In a press briefing Wednesday, Ben Chang, a Columbia University spokesperson, addressed the over 200 arrests made Tuesday evening, stemming from the ongoing protests.

The NYPD confirmed that the arrests from last night numbered 202, with 109 being from Columbia University.

"These were not peaceful protesters," Chang said. "I surveyed the damage myself, and as the president has indicated, severe damage was inflicted on that building."

In response to the disruptions, Chang said the university leadership, backed by the trustees, decided to call in the NYPD to help restore order.

Academic activities at Columbia will continue remotely for the remainder of the semester, according to Chang, who noted, the university is making adjustments to ensure that final exams and assessments proceed smoothly.

- ABC News’ Jason Volack

_{May 1, 6:38 PM}

Fordham requests NYPD disperse encampment in campus building

NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said Fordham University requested NYPD assistance in clearing an "unlawful encampment of individuals inside one of their buildings," in a statement posted to X on Wednesday.

Daughtry said individuals who refused to disperse from the encampment were placed inside a building at Fordham under arrest.

_{May 1, 6:39 PM}

Los Angeles mayor condemns 'absolutely detestable violence' at UCLA protest

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass addressed the protests that turned violent overnight at UCLA in a statement Wednesday, saying she met with Los Angeles police, sheriffs and other agencies.

"This morning, I met in person with LAPD, LASD, CHP, CalOES, UCPD and other regional agencies at the UCLA incident command post about the absolutely detestable violence on campus last night," Bass said.

Bass warned that any demonstrator involved in "launching fireworks at other people, spraying chemicals and physically assaulting others will be found, arrested, and prosecuted, as well as anyone involved in any form of violence or lawlessness."

The mayor noted that she's spoken to California Governor Gavin Newsom and thanked him for "his continued support."

_{May 1, 6:08 PM}

'Student's blood on my hands': UCLA faculty member recounts violent overnight protest

The day after protests turned violent at UCLA, faculty members held a conference addressing the protests and the university’s response.

"Last night I went to bed at around 4:00 a.m. with student’s blood on my hands and I'm not speaking figuratively," UCLA Assistant Professor Nicholas Shapiro said. "I mean, a student collapsed into my hands with blunt force trauma and mace in their eyes, and I had to treat them."

The protests led to 15 injuries, including one hospitalization, according to officials.

"This is a failure of our institution and we need to put a stop to it today," Shapiro said.

UCLA Associate Professor Bharat Venkat also addressed the violent scene on campus, saying, "It felt like walking through a war zone."

"They're screaming, they're crying," Venkat said of the student demonstrators. " They're having a difficult time breathing. This shouldn't be happening anywhere and this shouldn't be happening here at UCLA."

_{May 1, 6:28 PM}

University of California President orders independent review of overnight violence at UCLA

University of California President Michael V. Drake addressed the ongoing protests at UCLA that "turned violent" overnight, announcing in a statement on Wednesday an "independent external review" has been ordered.

The university summoned mutual aid from LAPD officers to "restore control" to the protest, according to Drake, who noted, there were 15 injuries, including one hospitalization, that stemmed from the protest.

"My office has requested a detailed accounting from the campus about what transpired in the early morning hours today," Drake said.

"But some confusion remains, therefore we are also ordering an independent external review of both UCLA’s planning and actions, and the effectiveness of the mutual aid response," Drake said.

UCLA's own chancellor, Gene D. Block, also promised an investigation.

"We are still gathering information about the attack on the encampment last night, and I can assure you that we will conduct a thorough investigation that may lead to arrests, expulsions and dismissals," Block told the campus community in a note Wednesday afternoon.

Block, in his note, said it was "a group of instigators" who came to Royce Quad to "forcefully attack the encampment that has been established there to advocate for Palestinian rights."

He called the overnight violence "utterly unacceptable."

"However one feels about the encampment, this attack on our students, faculty and community members was utterly unacceptable. It has shaken our campus to its core and — adding to other abhorrent incidents that we have witnessed and that have circulated on social media over the past several days — further damaged our community’s sense of security," his letter read.

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