Pro-Palestinian Protesters Storm UC Irvine Hall Police Arrests

Post by : Elena Malik

A disturbance unfolded at the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) campus on Wednesday when a group of several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators breached a lecture hall, university officials reported.

Both the Irvine Police Department (IPD) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) responded to the incident after UC Irvine requested additional support from local law enforcement agencies, as indicated in a campus emergency alert.

Law enforcement authorities have confirmed making several arrests, although the exact number of individuals detained has not been disclosed.

Efforts are underway to dismantle barricades set up by the protesters, with police working to clear the encampment and secure the affected building.

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In response to the ongoing situation, all classes for the day were canceled. The incident occurred at the Physical Sciences Lecture Hall around 2:30 p.m. local time.

University officials have issued advisories urging individuals near the protest to evacuate the area immediately and disregard any prior instructions to shelter in place.

UC Irvine’s official statement emphasized the need for those present in nearby buildings to exit promptly and steer clear of the protest zone until further notice.

The presence of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the UC Irvine campus dates back to April 29, with the recent escalation forming part of a broader wave of nationwide protests across more than 30 US university campuses.

These demonstrations call for educational institutions to divest from corporations providing financial support to Israel.

Jagdeep Singh Bachher, the Chief Investment Officer for the University of California, disclosed on Tuesday that the investments targeted by student protesters total $32 billion, nearly one-fifth of the UC system’s total assets.

Last month, the university’s president announced a decision not to pursue a boycott or divestment from Israel.