Pro-Palestinian protesters occupied a student services building at California State University, Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, blocking entrances and exits in what university officials called “unauthorized” action.
University spokesman Eric Frost Hollins said a group of about 100 protesters had blocked exits on the first floor and closed off walkways around the building. The university asked staff on upper floors to evacuate and everyone else to leave the area.
“This is not a place where we can expect staff to be safe leaving the building,” Hollins said. “With critical parts of the university not functioning, it makes sense to urge all staff and students to leave campus.”
Hollins said the university received an email from the group, who had been camped out near the campus gym for about 40 days, announcing the action. Hollins did not know the group’s name or what was written in the email. He also would not comment on how the university plans to respond, other than to say campus police are “aware and on scene.” Police declined to comment.
Hollins said the university has worked hard to provide a space for peaceful, nonviolent protests.
“Unfortunately, this action has taken a different turn today,” they said.
It was just after 7 p.m. and the campground was quiet, with only a few people present, separated by plywood, pallets and metal picnic tables.
The plywood was spray painted with messages like “It’s time to escalate!” and “CSU defund genocide.”
At the Student Services Building across from campus, protesters with lattes and masks on their faces blocked traffic from the perimeter of campus under yellow umbrellas, some of them carrying supplies including boxes of yerba mate, coolers, paper cups and plates.