Police in riot gear entered the UC Santa Cruz campus early Friday morning, ordering pro-Palestinian protesters who’ve blocked the principle entrance to campus to disperse.
Video taken after midnight confirmed a line of police with raised batons standing on the UC Santa Cruz encampment only a few ft from protesters who linked arms. Many protesters wore helmets and goggles and lined their faces with keffiyehs and masks.
“Go away the realm instantly,” a legislation enforcement officer instructed protesters. However his directions had been drowned out by the gang.
“Cops off campus!” the demonstrators chanted. “Glory to the martyrs!”
By 5 a.m., the protesters appeared to stay on the encampment, calling for backup.
“SHOW UP NOW,” College students for Justice in Palestine UC Santa Cruz mentioned on Instagram. “5AM AND WE ARE STILL HERE. WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER. GET HERE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.”
It was not instantly clear if any protesters had been arrested. Inquiries to UC Santa Cruz and native legislation enforcement companies weren’t instantly returned.
The standoff happened after protesters blocked the principle entrance to campus this week and college leaders switched to distant studying. College students have joined forces with a whole bunch of putting tutorial staff at UC Santa Cruz, who allege the College of California’s response to pro-Palestinian demonstrators has violated their free speech rights.
“We name on these protesters to right away reopen full entry to the campus and return to protesting in a way in keeping with each our group values and our pupil code of conduct,” college leaders wrote Thursday in a message to the campus group. “Denying tutorial entry isn’t free speech.”
