UCLA Administration Calls in Riot Police Over Brief Establishment of Second Encampment
The Executive Board of UAW Local 4811 called on academic workers at UCLA and UC Davis to strike on Tuesday, May 28, in response to unresolved unfair labor practices (ULPs) by the University of California.
The call for action follows a court’s denial of an injunction against the strike that the University of California had filed in an attempt to stop the strike. The ULPs stem from the events on April 30 and May 1 and actions taken against student encampments on other UC campuses, UCLA’s failure to protect students from a mob of violent men, and the retaliation against students and faculty members exercising their First Amendment right to protest in the UC encampments.
The president of UAW 4811 at UCLA announced the planned walkout on social media, stating, “UC has had many chances to resolve its egregious ULPs and it has thus far refused to engage. Now two more campuses are walking out. UCLA and UC Davis—it’s time to Stand Up.”
Lorena Gonzalez, Principal Officer of the California Labor Federation, supported the strike on Twitter, saying, “This is a California Labor Federation sanctioned strike, we urge everyone to respect the picket line!”
The strike at UCLA and UC Davis comes amid an ongoing strike of academic workers at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) UCLA established a second Palestine Solidarity Encampment at Kerckhoff patio early on Thursday morning. Members of UAW 4811 led a rally at Janss Steps at 1:00 p.m. This followed a dispersal from the second Palestine Solidarity Encampment after the LAPD declared the encampment unlawful.
Unlike their lack of action on April 30 and May 1, the UCLA Administration immediately called in the LAPD on Thursday, which issued a tactical alert level three in the city of Los Angeles over a group of students on a patio. Additional officers from Beverly Hills, Culver City, and Santa Monica joined the LAPD on the UCLA campus. All officers were in riot gear.
The declaration came after Rick Braziel, UCLA’s associate vice chancellor for campus safety and Micheal Beck released a statement that said, “The Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor, in partnership with the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Safety, has withdrawn consent to remain on campus for the demonstrators on Kerckhoff patio, asking them to disperse immediately. There is reasonable cause to find that demonstrators’ activities — including erecting barricades, establishing fortifications, and blocking access to parts of the campus and buildings — are disrupting campus operations. Demonstrators have been informed that if they do not disperse, they will face arrest and possible disciplinary action, as well as an order to stay away from campus for seven days. This order would apply to non-affiliates, as well as students, faculty, and staff. Our community members may appeal through the Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor.”
The 100 UAW 4811 members joined 300 students, including those from the second encampment and members of the Faculty for Justice in Palestine. The group then marched to Murphy Hall. “It’s time to stand up for the right to protest, and it’s time to stand up for the right to free speech,” UAW 4811 president Rafael Jaime told The Daily Bruin. “We need to be ready for Tuesday.”
After encountering police at Murphy Hall, who were observed on video shoving people in the crowd, carrying “less than lethal” rifles, and wearing face shields, the protesters proceeded to Dodd Hall, where they staged a sit-in.
When counter-protesters attempted to enter Dodd Hall, they were denied entry by the students. In a disturbing development, Rony Yehuda, also known as Judah Fire, who infamously had been involved in the horrific attack at the first Palestine Solidarity Encampment on April 30 and May 1, live-streamed from the UCLA campus for about an hour. The UCLA administration and UCPD did not notice that one of the leading members of the attack was on campus, freely walking wherever he pleased.
The student protesters peacefully dispersed from Dodd Hall at approximately 5:20 p.m. of their own volition.
