After weeks of peaceful demonstrations, pro-Palestinian protesters at Cal State Los Angeles breached and barricaded themselves inside a building on Wednesday, prompting the sharpest response yet from university officials.
In a campuswide email sent from the desk of University President Berenecea Johnson Eanes’ office Thursday afternoon, Eanes said she was “saddened” and “angry” over the protesters’ actions.
“I cannot and would not protect anyone who is directly identified as having participated in last night’s illegal activities from being held accountable. The Encampment has crossed a line. Those in the Encampment must leave,” she wrote. “A trust we had in the Encampment to practice non-violence has been violated.”
Previously, Eanes had been in ongoing communication with the encampment and its advisors, and had made commitments on transparency, conversations and mental health support. She had said that as long as the encampment remained non-violent, she would continue talks.
More than 50 protesters, calling for the university’s disclosure and divestment from groups with ties to Israel, have occupied a space outside the school’s gymnasium since May 1. Wednesday’s chaos marked the group’s first escalated attempt at a separate occupation.
According to university spokesperson Erik Frost Hollins, protesters moved from the original encampment to the Student Services building around 4 p.m. and quickly began to barricade entrances with tables and umbrellas to limit access. Photos circulating on social media showed a few demonstrators chaining themselves to the building’s entrances and video of overturned golf carts and vending machines.
Hollins said administration moved quickly to advise the nearly 60 staffers inside to shelter in place until campus police could identify an escape route for the employees. Close to a dozen senior staffers, including President Eanes, stayed inside the building until after midnight to manage the situation with the protesters inside.
Campus administration confirmed that all protesters and staff were vacated from the building shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday.
Graffiti reading, “Who do you protect?” and “Down with imperialism” was painted onto windows on separate floors of the building. As shown in a Fox 11 video, some glass doors were shattered.
As of Thursday morning, campus police were still assessing the damage of the building. Classes and campus operations went remote on Thursday with no word on when classes would resume in person.
Hollins said the damage to parts of the building was significant and went beyond spray paint and displaced furniture, and said it impacted services such as admissions, records and resources for Dreamers.
“This is going to have a significant impact on students. There is going to be time and resources that will have to be dedicated to restoring these services and their spaces, and that’s very disappointing.”
Eanes did not explain how the school would move forward and if a decampment was imminent. The Los Angeles Police Department denied involvement in engaging with the protesters and the group, Students for Justice in Palestine of Cal State Los Angeles, have since deactivated their Instagram account.
No arrests or injuries were reported.
