LOS ANGELES (AP) – In late April of 2024, a pro-Palestinian student encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles was violently attacked by a mob while police and campus security reportedly stood by for hours before intervening. Allegations of police inaction and subsequent aggression towards protesters have led to a lawsuit filed against law enforcement agencies and university officials.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, comes amidst a backdrop of federal government efforts to restrict speech on Palestine in the name of combating antisemitism on college campuses. Federal actions, including arrests and visa revocations of students and scholars advocating for Palestine, have escalated tensions. Additionally, the Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the University of California system for alleged Antisemitic practices.
The complaint, spanning 96 pages, lists specific incidents of violence against pro-Palestinian protesters, accusing university officials and police of civil rights violations, unlawful arrests, and negligence in protecting students and faculty from harm. The plaintiff’s complaint highlights a pattern of anti-Palestinian bias and failure to uphold the rights of peaceful protesters on campus.
Amid a series of events leading up to the attack, Zionist counter-protesters had disrupted the encampment, playing provocative music and attempting to sabotage the protest. On the night of the attack, some counter-protesters allegedly carried fireworks and chemical agents, escalating tensions further.
The lawsuit details instances of physical violence, harassment, and assault against the plaintiffs, resulting in injuries such as broken bones, nerve damage, and ongoing mental health issues. One plaintiff, Thistle Boosinger, a Taiko drum instructor, sustained severe injuries during the attack, affecting her ability to teach music.
In response to threats from the Trump administration against universities supporting pro-Palestine speech, UCLA initiated an antisemitism combating initiative, which has faced criticism from Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students who feel their safety concerns have been disregarded. The lawsuit follows reports of ongoing harassment and punishment of advocates for Palestine on campus.
Plaintiffs hope the lawsuit will not only seek justice and compensation but also draw attention back to the core demands of the encampment, which include ending the genocide in Gaza and divesting university funds from companies associated with such violence. The litigation process seeks to uncover more information on the perpetrators behind the attacks and hold accountable those responsible for the violence against pro-Palestinian protesters.