The University of Southern California closed its campus after pro-Palestinian protesters returned to the school. They issued a warning asking students and visitors to avoid the school earlier on Saturday evening.
“Due to a disruption, the University Park Campus is temporarily closed, except for residents,” the university said in an alert.
The Los Angeles Police Department issued a tactical warning following the protest. A few hours after the protest began, a huge number of police officers responded to the school with flashing lights and sirens.
Dozens of protesters gathered near a vandalized fountain, and the statue of Tommy Trojan was also covered in graffiti. It appeared that fireworks were set off near campus during the protest.
The university announced this on Thursday that it will cancel the main graduation ceremony, scheduled for May 10, 2024, due to “new security measures.”
The announcement comes amid controversy surrounding the farewell speech and pro-Palestinian protesters on campus.
Last week, USC decided to ban biomedical engineering and valedictorian Asna Tabassum, who is Muslim, from speaking due to safety concerns. In a letter to university administrators, critics accused her of posting links and views on social media that promoted “anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric.”
More than fifty student organizations signed a letter in support of Tabassum, who accused USC last week of giving in to hatred.
“I am as committed to the lives of Jews as I am to Muslims or Christians or any other form of identity,” she said.
A Change.org petition demanding Tabassum be allowed to speak at commencement has collected nearly 4,000 signatures.
A week after the decision to cancel the farewell speech, demonstrators gathered at USC’s Alumni Park, following a trend of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses nationwide.
The protest lasted most of the day but began to end around 5pm on Wednesday after Los Angeles police ordered protesters off campus.
Many remained in the area and linked arms as LAPD officers in riot gear marched closer to them. Others took out their phones and appeared to record what was happening as police began surrounding the remaining protesters.
After a few hours, the LAPD managed to move the protesters off campus and at least arrest them 93 people for violation in the trial.
KCAL News
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