Nearly two weeks ago, the LAPD were invited onto campus to clear away a student protest camp that had sprouted overnight. As I pointed out at the time, the crowd at USC was fairly rowdy and made it difficult for LAPD to remove the tents.
“Is this your legacy?” Students ask DPS officers at @USC pic.twitter.com/NItQ58R13T
— angie (@angorellanah) April 24, 2024
When police decided to arrest one person, they mob surrounded the police car he was put in and refused to let the officers leave. Eventually they had to release the arrested person for their own safety. That was one incident but overall, police arrested 93 people during that sweep and the tents were cleared from the campus.
But the leaders of the protest camp weren't done. Just over a week ago they reestablished the tent camp. USC's president put out a statement letting them know that consequences were coming.
Freedom of expression is one of our foundational values, and throughout the year, faculty, staff, and students have held lawful marches, vigils, and peaceful demonstrations. But let me be absolutely clear: free speech and assembly do not include the right to obstruct equal access to campus, damage property, or foment harassment, violence, and threats. Nor is anyone entitled to obstruct the normal functions of our university, including commencement...
When laws and policies that apply to everyone are repeatedly and flagrantly violated – there must be consequences. This is an intense and highly charged time for the country and for many here at USC – I'm asking everyone to help, abide by all our security measures, and treat each other with empathy and respect. The university has initiated disciplinary review processes for individuals who have violated both our policies and the law. We will take any further actions required to maintain campus safety and security, consistent with our legal obligations.
On Saturday afternoon a spokesperson for the administration visited the camp and read aloud another statement similar to the one above, letting them know they had to move but could relocate their tent camp to another area further from the center of campus. The protesters refused. As a result, early Sunday morning the LAPD moved in again.
At 4:17 a.m. USC issued an alert saying the LAPD had arrived and that people should leave the park area in the center of campus. Officials gave demonstrators the option to leave before being arrested. A group of about 30 protesters left the encampment as LAPD pushed them toward the university’s Jefferson Boulevard entrance.
“Free, free Palestine” demonstrators chanted when they faced police at the perimeter, beating drums as helicopters hovered overhead...
At about 5 a.m., police entered the core of the encampment and began dismantling tents, leaving behind posters and the makeshift barriers. A perimeter was set up outside the university park area where media and protesters gathered. By 6 a.m. the encampment area appeared empty and quiet. Los Angeles police had largely left and about 33 campus police officers patrolled the area as trucks and workers hauled away the encampnent debris.
The protesters released a whiny statement but the key line it is this one: "Students complied with both the dispersal orders and the identification threats and fortunately no arrests were made."
The protesters at USC seem to have learned that there could be real consequences for their actions. I don't think this sweep by the LAPD would have gone the way it did Sunday morning if not for the tougher stance taken at Columbia and at other schools last week. Simply put, threatening the group as a group only encourages them to double down, but if you identify the individuals and make it clear they will personally be expelled, their attitude changes dramatically. "No arrests were made" is a sign that even the student radicals are only willing to go so far.
At least 13 students and one staff member are facing disciplinary action following the early morning LAPD sweep of the anti-war encampment at Alumni Park, a media liaison with USC Divest from Death told Annenberg Media...
Prior to today’s sweep in the early morning hours, students who had been arrested for criminal trespassing during the April 24 sweep were notified in an email from the university that “any further violations of university policies … [would] result in further discipline up to expulsion as well as an immediate ban from campus.”
The email specified that violating university policies against camping, vandalism and defying DPS directives, among others, would be grounds for disciplinary action.
This is the way forward for other administrators around the country. Identify the students in the camp and let them know they will be expelled if they fail to comply with police orders. That's how you get a cleared campus with no arrests made.
Solidarity encampments at USC - now vacant. No arrests were made.
— Sarah Alegre (@SarahEalegre) May 5, 2024
Here’s what’s left over pic.twitter.com/AxUmgFbEOz
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