Los Angeles, California – Pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have filed a lawsuit against campus officials and various law enforcement agencies. The lawsuit alleges civil rights violations, wrongful arrests, and excessive force during demonstrations that took place last year. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, details the violence and injuries suffered by members of the UCLA Palestine Solidarity Encampment at the hands of police and counterprotesters from April to June of 2024.
According to the complaint, UCLA, known as the country’s top-ranked public university, failed to intervene during a “brutal mob assault” by counterprotesters against the encampment on April 30. Reports from The Washington Post and The New York Times documented how law enforcement allowed unchecked violence against pro-Palestinian demonstrators, who had set up Gaza solidarity camps alongside college activists across the US.
The lawsuit alleges that no counterprotesters were arrested despite officers witnessing violent attacks that were broadcast live. The protesters were subjected to various forms of violence, including physical assaults, chemical burns, and sexual assaults. Thomas Harvey, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, decried the four-plus hours of unmitigated violence while UCLA private security reportedly did nothing to protect the protesters.
The following day, on May 1, the lawsuit states that UCLA requested the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and California Highway Patrol (CHP) to forcibly remove pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The officers allegedly used flashbangs, projectiles, physical force, and made arrests, leading to more than 200 protesters being detained. The suit also highlights the systemic anti-Palestinian bias at UCLA, affecting students, faculty, legal observers, journalists, and community supporters at the encampment.
The plaintiffs include a diverse group of individuals who describe various experiences of violence, discrimination, and harassment during the protests. They aim to shed light on what occurred on campus, protect free expression at UCLA, and seek compensation for the damages incurred. The lawsuit seeks to hold UCLA accountable for its handling of the protests, which resulted in physical injuries, mental health issues, and disruptions to academic pursuits for many individuals involved.