From Moore to More

Yesterday, a series of Bruin Alerts were sent out, first saying classes in Moore Hall should go to remote instruction due to a disturbance, then saying the directive to go to remote instruction would apply to the rest of the campus as well through Friday. From the LA Times:

Heightened and quick-moving police actions against protesters unfolded Monday at UCLA and other campuses, as university officials said there would be little tolerance for demonstrators who disrupted campus and violated laws and student conduct codes in the wake of last week’s violence and tensions at pro-Palestinian encampments.

At UCLA on Monday, campus police arrested 44 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in a parking structure — actions students called harassment and intimidation — as they assembled before a peaceful protest. Other protesters were ordered to disperse when they entered a campus building. Classes were moved online for the rest of the week as a security precaution.

The action came after UCLA officials vowed to improve security after a violent mob last week attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment that was later torn down by law enforcement. The UCLA police chief has come under intense criticism for the violence and failure to bring in police fast enough to quell the melee...

Initially, an unidentified UCLA police officer told some reporters and observers that those detained were being held for delaying an investigation when asked for identification to look into a possible curfew violation, according to a video posted on social media platform X from a KNX News reporter. Hours later, however, a UCLA police lieutenant told the Daily Bruin that the 43 individuals were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary. One student called this allegation false. The student shared a text sent Sunday about a low-key “sit-in style building occupation” with the rendezvous point at 6 a.m. Monday in the parking structure.

The LAPD and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, both at the scene, declined to comment on the incident, saying UCLA’s Police Department is the lead agency. The Sheriff’s Department “is only involved in transporting,” said agency spokesperson Deputy Grace Medrano. UCLA officials did not respond to multiple questions about the nature of the arrests. Those who were arrested Monday, who all appeared zip-tied, were escorted from the parking garage to an L.A. County Sheriff’s Department bus...

Full story at https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-06/dozens-detained-at-ucla-early-monday.