Leaders at the state, city, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have been noticeably absent during recent clashes between protesters and counterprotesters, hindering the possibility of achieving real justice. The Los Angeles Police Department is utilizing facial recognition software to identify violent protesters, but their use of masks to conceal their identities poses a challenge. Despite the recent clash between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine supporters at UCLA, no arrests have been made yet. However, an illegal encampment was dismantled by police, resulting in 209 arrests.
Both state and university leadership allowed the situation to escalate by permitting the illegal encampment to grow and fortify on the UCLA campus. The lack of action from authorities fueled tensions on campus and emboldened the “pro-Palestinian” protesters to harass students, prompting a response from counterprotesters. The failure of leadership is evident, with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stating that UCLA falls outside their jurisdiction, and Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledging delayed and inadequate responses from law enforcement.
The inaction of UCLA leadership, Mayor Bass, and Governor Newsom raises questions about why additional law enforcement assistance was not requested earlier, and why pressure was not placed on the university to address the encampment sooner. The incident highlights a lack of urgency from authorities, as protesters hindered the movement of students and firefighters before the encampment was dismantled. Overall, the failure to address the encampment effectively reflects poorly on UCLA leadership, Mayor Bass, and Governor Newsom, regardless of jurisdictional issues.
