Last Update May 02, 2024 08:43am ET

Police in riot gear are in a tense standoff with anti-Israel protesters at the encampment at UCLA and the school has switched to virtual classes amid an “emergency on campus.” Anti-Israel protests continue on college campuses nationwide and dozens have been arrested where protests have escalated.

Covered by: Chris Pandolfo, Landon Mion, Elizabeth Pritchett, Scott McDonald and Bradford Betz

FAST FACTS

•  The anti-Israel protest movement that started on Columbia University’s campus and has spread nationwide has led to dozens of arrests as police confront escalating demonstrators. 
•  Law enforcement agencies in riot gear were in a standoff with anti-Israel protesters at UCLA on Thursday morning. Police moved in on the protesters shortly after 3 a.m. local time. 
•  Bipartisan members of Congress and the White House have condemned antisemitic language and slogans used by the protesters on college campuses. 

Former President Trump calls out Biden for silence on ‘RADICAL LEFT REVOLUTION’ on campuses

Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump holds his hands up during a rally on May 1, 2024 at Avflight Saginaw in Freeland, Michigan. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Former President Trump on Thursday called out President Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom for their silence as police confront anti-Israel protesters on UCLA’s campus.

“THIS IS A RADICAL LEFT REVOLUTION TAKING PLACE IN OUR COUNTRY,” Trump posted on his social media network, Truth Social. 

“WHERE IS CROOKED JOE BIDEN? WHERE IS GOVERNOR NEWSCUM? THE DANGER TO OUR COUNTRY IS FROM THE LEFT, NOT FROM THE RIGHT!!!” he said, referring to Biden and Newsom by his favorite nicknames for them.

Biden has not issued a direct statement on the protests, but the White House on Tuesday released a statement from assistant press secretary Andrew Bates that condemned the occupation of Hamilton Hall by protesters at Columbia University.

“President Biden has stood against repugnant, antisemitic smears and violent rhetoric his entire life,” Bates said. “He condemns the use of the term ‘intifada,’ as he has the other tragic and dangerous hate speech displayed in recent days.”

Newsom issued a statement on the violence seen at UCLA’s campus on Wednesday, after about 100 counter-protesters brawled with those gathered at the anti-Israel encampment for hours. 

“I condemn the violence at UCLA last night,” Newsom said. “The law is clear: The right to free speech does not extend to inciting violence, vandalism, or lawlessness on campus. Those who engage in illegal behavior must be held accountable for their actions — including through criminal prosecution, suspension, or expulsion.” 

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BREAKING NEWS7 min(s) ago

Police at UCLA haul away zip-tied anti-Israel agitators

Law enforcement officers detain an anti-Israel agitator at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), in Los Angeles, May 2, 2024. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)

Police removed barricades and began to detain some protesters at the anti-Israel encampment on UCLA’s campus Thursday morning.

Hundreds of officers moved in on the encampment from both sides of Royce Hall after a standoff overnight as police gathered in preparation for the raid, which comes amid a nationwide movement calling on college and universities to divest from Israel. Local FOX affiliate KTTV reported that officers met heavy resistance as they approached the camp.

Protesters attempted to resist by shining bright flashlights into the eyes of officers, KTTV reported. Several people were seen being detained by police and hauled away with their hands zip-tied behind their backs.

It is unclear how many people have been detained. 

Elsewhere, police in New Hampshire said they made 90 arrests and took down tents at Dartmouth College and officers in Oregon came onto the campus at Portland State University as school officials sought to end the occupation of the library that started Monday.

New York police burst into a building occupied by war protesters at Columbia University on Tuesday night, breaking up a demonstration that had paralyzed the school and making 40-50 arrests.

At the University of Wisconsin in Madison, police clashed with protesters on Wednesday and four officers were injured, including a state trooper who was hit in the head with a skateboard. Four protesters were charged with battering law enforcement. 

Meanwhile at Brown University in Rhode Island, school officials reached an agreement to end the encampment there by promising to hold a vote on divestment from Israel. 

The Associated Press contributed to this update.

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59 min(s) ago

UCLA student on campus becoming ‘war zone’: ‘This is a disgrace’

UCLA law student Matthew Weinberg spoke out against the violence witnessed on his school’s campus, where police are attempting to clear an unlawful anti-Israel encampment.

Weinberg called the protest a “disgrace” and said tear gas and flashbangs deployed by police reminded him of a “war zone.” 

“It demonstrates to me that this school is run by a bunch of cowards,” Weinberg said. “It demonstrates to me a lack of moral clarity, and it also demonstrates to me the degradation of our society.” 

He criticized the school administration for permitting the encampment to remain on campus as long as it has while Jewish students were made to feel unsafe.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that they are owed a tuition reimbursement. I have a friend at law school, she was pepper sprayed. There are a number of other students that were physically assaulted. The school has done absolutely nothing,” he said, adding that an apology would be “insufficient.” 

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1 hour(s) ago

Biden pressured to address the nation amid campus protests, antisemitic unrest

President Biden, who was motivated to run for president by the bigotry on display in Charlottesville in 2017, is feeling increased media and political pressure to speak out on antisemitism as agitators and unrest roil college campuses.

CNN’s Dana Bash said Wednesday that Democrats she’s spoken to about Biden’s response to the protests so far believe he looks “weak,” as the country has seen tumultuous scenes at universities coast to coast, from Columbia to UCLA.

Bash noted a statement from White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates, which said Biden supported the right to peacefully protest, and “forcibly taking over buildings is not peaceful.” The statement added, “hate speech and hate symbols have no place in America.” 

“He’s the deputy press secretary, he’s certainly not the president, who we haven’t heard from. He’s not the communications director, who we haven’t heard from. He’s not the press secretary, who we haven’t heard from. This is very telling that this is what we have so far with everything that’s going on, from the White House and the President of the United States,” Bash said. 

The New York Times’ Zolan Kanno-Youngs said he was traveling with Biden to New York, where several campus protests have unfolded. 

“I was going into it thinking, oh he’s got to make a statement here. He’s got to come over and talk to the press about what we’re seeing unraveling and we didn‘t see that, he didn’t come over,” he said. “I don‘t think that’s going to be able to last. This is how we’ve seen them message on this so far. Statements that clearly condemn antisemitism and don‘t condone violence, calling for peaceful protests. But again, it‘s written statements.” 

“I’ve talked to some Democrats who say they’re worried that he looks weak,” Bash responded, referring to Biden not speaking on the issue directly. 

Fox News Digital’s Hanna Panreck contributed to this update.

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BREAKING NEWS1 hour(s) ago

UCLA outlines consequences for anti-Israel protesters who do not leave encampment

Cops face-off with anti-Israel students after destroying part of the encampment barricade on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California, early on May 2, 2024. (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)

University of California, Los Angeles officials have warned students and faculty to avoid the area of Dickson Plaza as police work to clear the anti-Israel encampment there.

UCLA declared the encampment and all unauthorized tents and structures in Dickson Plaza to be unlawful before calling in law enforcement agencies to remove anyone who refuses to leave. In a public safety advisory, the university outlined potential consequences for those who refuse to disperse.

“If you fail to leave and remain present in the encampment or unauthorized tents or structures in Dickson Plaza, regardless of your purpose for remaining, you will be in violation of the law and those who choose to remain could face sanctions,” the university said. 

“For students, those sanctions could include disciplinary measures such as interim suspension that, after proper due process through the student conduct process, could lead to dismissal. Faculty disciplinary actions would be handled through Senate judiciary committees and Academic Affairs and Personnel, and staff employee disciplinary actions would be handled through Human Resources.  Please leave the area immediately.” 

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BREAKING NEWS1 hour(s) ago

Flashbangs, tear gas deployed as police move to break up UCLA anti-Israel camp

Anti-Israel students block stair access to their encampment as police try to force their way in on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California, early on May 2, 2024. (ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)

Officers with the Los Angeles Police Departmentand the California Highway Patrol were seen dismantling the anti-Israel encampment on UCLA’s campus early Thursday morning.

The sound of flashbangs could be heard as officers in riot gear approached a plywood wall constructed by the protesters and began to tear it down. Demonstrators in masks attempted to defend their encampment and interfere with efforts to tear the barriers down. 

Police moved in on the encampment after ordering the unlawful assembly gathered in Dickson Plaza to disperse on Wednesday evening. At around 1:20 a.m. local time Thursday, police began their first sweep of the encampment before withdrawing into a standoff, the Daily Bruin student newspaper reported.

“You risk serious injury,” an officer with a megaphone told those gathered in the encampment ahead of the police raid, according to the Daily Bruin.

Protesters reportedly shouted back, “We’re not leaving!” and “Who do you protect?” 

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2 hour(s) ago

Catch up: Anti-Israel protesters at UCLA build wall around encampment ahead of police raid

Anti-Israel protesters at UCLA built a wall around their encampment as tensions rose overnight with multiple law enforcement agencies on campus.

Police had been increasing their presence over the past few hours ahead of the raid that is currently happening. 

Walls of plywood were seen surrounding most of the encampment, which was already behind railing, and protesters were seen standing up above the top of the plywood with strobe lights and Palestinian flags.

Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin said power drills could be heard throughout the night as the protesters continued to fortify the barrier separating them from multiple agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.

Melugin estimated there are hundreds of protesters behind the plywood and hundreds more surrounding the police perimeter.

Law enforcement entered the encampment shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday morning after multiple calls for the protesters to leave the area. 

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this update.

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BREAKING NEWS2 hour(s) ago

Police at UCLA move to break up anti-Israel encampment

Anti-Israel students stand their ground after police breached their encampment the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California, early on May 2, 2024. (ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)

Police officers in riot gear have moved in on anti-Israel protesters at UCLA’s campus. 

Earlier, law enforcement agencies in riot gear knocked down the plywood barrier surrounding the anti-Israel encampment at UCLA and entered the area at around 1:54 a.m. local time after hours of a tense standoff with hundreds of anti-Israel protesters on campus.

Not long after entering the encampment in Dickson Plaza, police appeared to withdraw from the area and engaged in another standoff with the protesters that ended around 3:20 am. 

UCLA is requiring classes to be held remotely on Thursday and Friday as anti-Israel protests continue to escalate on campus.

The university sent out an alert announcing an “emergency on campus” early Thursday morning after law enforcement agencies briefly breached the encampment in Dickson Plaza before withdrawing to regroup.

Employees are also encouraged to work remotely as the alert said for everyone to avoid the area of Dickson Court/Plazas (Royce Quad).

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this update.