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WESTWOOD, LOS ANGELES () — Several protesters who were arrested early Thursday morning at UCLA are speaking out after being released from custody, sharing details of their experience.
Demonstrations – and arrests – have occurred in almost every corner of the nation. But in the last 24 hours, they’ve drawn the most attention at UCLA, where chaotic scenes played out as officers in riot gear surged against a crowd of demonstrators as they cleared their encampment.
At least 200 people were arrested, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The arrestees were being booked at the Men’s Central Jail near downtown. UCLA police will determine what if any charges to seek.
“It was pretty intense”
Four protesters, who identified themselves as UCLA students, spoke with Eyewitness News after their release and shared details of their experience.
“It was pretty intense,” said Isaac Shih. “There was a lot of moments where we stood, basically, line to line, parallel to the officers and they were just kind of trying to push us back. We just had to hold our ground.”
He also said it seemed like the officers “had no remorse or sympathy” for the protesters.
Another student, who only identified herself as Illahe, said it was “pointless” for officers to arrest them only to be released “right away.”
“We’ve been trying our best to stay peaceful as an encampment, but at the end of the day, we knew the cops would have this type of response, that the school would have this type of response,” she said. “We’re not done. We’re not done. We’re not going to leave this at that. We’re not going to let people forget what happened, what’s happening, currently, in Gaza.”
Another student said the process was “a lot at once” while another said “it was fine.”
DA expects most charges will be misdemeanors
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón spoke with Eyewitness News Thursday and said most of those people who were arrested are likely going to face misdemeanor charges, which will be handled by the city attorney’s office.
“Primarily, I think you’re going to see charges that are going to be unlawful assembly,” said Gascón. “There may be some misdemeanor battery cases, and those cases would go straight to the city attorney’s office.”
The more serious cases, he said, like assault with a deadly weapon, for example, would go Gascón’s office.
“We have to ensure that we protect the safety of our entire community and our campus,” he said. “I’m very committed and so is everyone in my office to make sure that people that harm others are held accountable for that.”
He said no cases have been presented to the county’s district attorney’s office so far.
“I think it’s important to send a message to both the campus community and the community at large that expressing your views is important as part of a democracy, but also respecting the rights of others, respecting the rights of kids that are going to school,” the DA said. “They need to finish their college education or certainly, they need to finish their finals. I don’t subscribe to the idea that you have to use violence or you have to destroy property in order to express your First Amendment rights.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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