The Brief

Crowds of pro-Palestinian protesters swarmed University of Southern California on Wednesday for a demonstration that went from peaceful agendas to scuffles with police, eventually leading to the arrest of dozens of people.

Roughly 12 hours after the demonstration began in the predawn hours, campus and L.A. police officers ordered the crowd to disperse, prompting some to dig in. The Los Angeles Police Department said 93 people were arrested for trespassing.

USC’s Provost Andrew Guzman said protesters were repeatedly asked by security officers to remove prohibited items and relocate to a "compliant location."

"In each case, protesters refused," he added. "Their actions have escalated to the point of confrontation and have threatened the safety of our officers and campus community."

Police patrols will continue on campus through at least the weekend, which is only open to those with a USC ID or people with verifiable business there, the university announced.

The protest was the latest in a series of camp-in demonstrations sweeping across U.S. college campuses in response to the Israel-Hamas War.

Organizers said they planned to occupy Alumni Park until university administrators pledge to divest from companies with links to Israel and arms manufacturers. They're also calling on USC to end partnerships with Hebrew University's Rothenberg International School and Reichman University.

Students participate in a yoga class during a Pro-Palestinian occupation on campus at USC on April 24, 2024.

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They also want the university to release a statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Student organizers from the USC chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace were among those taking part in the protest.

“JVP USC feels our voice is especially important right now as many people at USC and across the country are equating Zionism and Judaism, but we are here to say they are not the same,” an organizer said in a statement. “We stand by our belief of free speech, resistance to oppressive systems and solidarity with our valedictorian Asna and all other college campuses where pro-Palestine voices have been silenced."

Students and protesters chant at a Pro-Palestinian occupation protest on campus at USC on April 24, 2024.

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By 10 a.m., the crowd had swelled, with many yelling chants that included, "While you’re learning, Gaza is burning" and "Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest!"

Students and demonstrators march and chanted a Pro-Palestinian occupation protest on campus at USC on April 24, 2024.

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But at around 11:20 a.m., campus officers began dismantling the encampments, gathering folding chairs, blankets and boxes belonging to the protesters, who then started moving their tents and belongings around to avoid confiscation.

About 30 minutes later, some demonstrators could be seen violently clashing with campus safety and LAPD officers as the crowd grew to more than 100.

Albert Corado, brother of Mely Corado, alongside students and protesters fight with USC Department of Public Safety officers over tents at a Pro-Palestinian occupation protest on campus at USC on April 24, 2024.

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Students and protesters march with tents to prevent USC Department of Public Safety officers from removing them at a Pro-Palestinian occupation protest on campus at USC on April 24, 2024.

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Viet Thanh Nguyen, university professor in the departments of English, American studies, ethnicity and comparative literature, said he joined the protesters at Alumni Park because "rarely have I seen such a mass of students come out to USC for political protests, for protests for social justice, human rights, anti war, anti genocide."

Ahmad Hasan, who graduated from USC in 2021, said he came out because he wants to "make Palestine unavoidable on campus."

"We want to send a very clear message that we will not allow this university to continue doing business as usual and pretending like we aren't losing our family members every day in Gaza," said Hasan, who is of Palestinian descent.

Around 1:30 p.m., the university closed its gates and started requiring visitors to show an ID. Shortly after 5 p.m., LAPD officers in riot gear and armed with rubber bullets entered the campus to carry out a dispersal order and remove protesters who aren't students.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m., police announced that the court is private property and demonstrators had 10 minutes to leave the area or be subject to criminal trespassing charges. While most people dispersed, a group of several dozen students who had locked arms were taken into custody one-by-one.

Meanwhile, smaller groups of demonstrators forced some street closures around the campus.

The preceding valedictorian controversy

Last week, tensions were high on USC’s campus after the administration announced it was canceling Asna Tabassum’s valedictory address, citing security concerns.

Her selection was met by criticism from some student groups, including Trojans for Israel, for what they described as her “anti-Zionist rhetoric” and external online sites she had linked to on her Instagram profile. External pro-Israeli groups like We are Tov also criticized her selection, saying she “promotes antisemitic views.”

Students set up a pro-Palestinian occupation protest on campus at USC in the pre-dawn hours of April 24, 2024.

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In an interview with Democracy Now, Tabassum said the linked resources included information relating to “the two-state solution, as well, as well as the one-state.”

“And my goal in putting the link in my bio is simply to inform my fellow peers in the small ways that I can,” she added. “But, ultimately, what I want people to take away is for people to inform themselves, come to their own conclusions, and then advocate for what they believe in.”

Since the administration made its announcement, students and faculty have been protesting and writing letters asking management to revoke their decision.

Students carrying signs protest a canceled commencement speech by its 2024 valedictorian who has publicly supported Palestinians on the campus of University of Southern California on April 18, 2024.

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In a statement to LAist, USC said their decision "had nothing to do with the background or viewpoint of the valedictorian, but was instead based on a careful and holistic review of the situation from a safety and security standpoint.”

On Friday, the administration also announced they are canceling the keynote address by commencement speaker Jon Chu, the director behind the hit movie Crazy Rich Asians and a graduate of USC's prestigious film and television school.

“Nothing can take precedence over the safety of our community,” the statement added.

While USC officials cited safety, the LAPD confirmed to LAist last week that no crime report had been opened for the threats.

Students and protesters chant at a Pro-Palestinian occupation protest on campus at USC on April 24, 2024.

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USC joins other campuses nationwide

The tensions at USC are a reflection of a national trend as student protests have been roiling campuses in response to Israel’s invasion of Gaza following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities, who also reported about 250 people were taken hostage. Israel says about 100 of those original hostages are believed to remain captive. Israel’s bombing of Gaza has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of whom are women and children, according to the local health authority.

Several universities have said they want to foster free speech and open conversations. At the same time, administrators have had to answer to sharp criticisms from alumni, donors and others asking about the use of antisemitic language and slogans by some demonstrators.

Cal Poly Humboldt was shut temporarily down this week after demonstrators occupied Siemens Hall with tents chanting pro-Palestine phrases and clashing with authorities.

Around 250 students at University of California, Berkeley have also set up a similar encampment outside Sproul Hall with some Jewish students joining the protesters for a Passover seder.

On Monday, Columbia University announced it was shifting classes to online after students set up encampments on the campus lawns calling on university administrators to sever ties with companies with links to Israel. Some of the students were arrested and suspended.

USC Department of Public Safety attempt to remove a detained protester during a Pro-Palestinian occupation protest on campus at USC on April 24, 2024.

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At Yale and New York University, police arrested around 150 people who were also calling on their administrators to divest ties with Israeli companies and weapons manufacturers.

How effective are divestment protests?

Students have turned to protest in the past calling on universities to cut ties with fossil fuel interests and organizations with ties to apartheid era South Africa.

In 2021, after nine months of student protests, the Cal State University system began pulling $162 million in investments from fossil fuel companies. The University of California system, Harvard and more than 50 universities across the nation have made similar pledges to divest from fossil fuel interests.

Gillian Hart, a professor emerita at University of California, Berkeley, was active in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement in the Boston area in the 1980s. When she taught at Boston University and MIT in the 10 years that she worked with students in the anti-apartheid movement, she said, there was only one occasion that resulted in “active police aggression” compared to the divestment movements happening on college campuses now.

“I think what was extremely important about the movement was the extent to which students really were very keen and anxious to learn about what was going on in South Africa,” she said.

Andy Pages drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the seventh inning to give Los Angeles the lead, and the Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Wednesday night to clinch their NL Division Series.

The Dodgers won back-to-back games in Atlanta to take the best-of-five matchup 3-1 and advance to the National League Championship Series as they seek to become the first NL team to win three straight World Series.

Pages lined a 3-2 pitch from Robert Suarez up the middle to drive in Teoscar Hernández, who singled off starter Tyler Mahle, and pinch-runner Tommy Edman for a 3-1 lead. Didier Fuentes walked pinch-hitter Josue De Paula and Kyle Tucker to load the bases. Edman ran for De Paula.

Max Muncy’s solo shot off Raisel Iglesias in the ninth padded the lead and gave the slugger 19 postseason homers with the Dodgers, extending his franchise record.

Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow, making his first start since Sept. 24, allowed only one hit but walked five batters in 4 2/3 innings. After he issued two walks in the fifth, left-hander Alex Vesia ended the inning on Matt Olson’s groundout to second base.

The missed opportunity left the Braves with 18 walks in the series, and none scored.

Glasnow and four relievers combined to give up just three hits. Tanner Scott pitched a perfect eighth before Edwin Díaz got three quick outs for the save.

Mahle, a native of Newport Beach, California, who grew up a Dodgers fan, allowed two runs — one earned — in 6 1/3 innings.

Michael Harris II hit Glasnow’s first pitch for a single before stealing second and eventually scoring from third on a wild pitch that bounced off catcher Will Smith’s chest protector.

The Dodgers pulled even in the second with the help of two Atlanta errors. Shohei Ohtani walked, stole second and advanced to third on catcher Sean Murphy’s errant throw into center field. Muncy’s pop fly into shallow left field was dropped by shortstop Mauricio Dubón for another error, allowing Ohtani to score.

Hernández crashed into the wall while attempting to catch Ozzie Albies’ double off Vesia leading off the sixth. Hernández pointed to his head and neck when talking to an athletic trainer but remained in the game.

Edgardo Henriquez stranded Albies at second. Henriquez allowed one hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win.

Injury report

Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas was held out after leaving Tuesday night’s 3-1 win during an at-bat in the eighth inning with lower back soreness. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said Rojas would not be available off the bench.

Ronald Acuña Jr. started in right field for Atlanta one day after being moved to designated hitter in a late lineup change due to right knee soreness.

Up next

The Dodgers will face Milwaukee or San Diego in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday.

The Democratic National Committee on Wednesday sued President Donald Trump’s administration for recent television advertisements that promoted his political message while costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that the ads are illegal government-sponsored propaganda and accuses Trump of personally directing them. It asks the court to declare the ads illegal and stop the use of federal funds to pay for them.

Trump has faced bipartisan backlash for the ads, which glorify him and echo his campaign pitch as voters cast early ballots with the midterm elections less than a month away.

The spots, which began airing in September, already have cost more than $12 million to run, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact, and a total of $20 million in Homeland Security Department funding has been tapped to pay for them.

Responding Monday to the criticism, Trump defended the ads as “positive promotion for our Great U.S.A.” but said he’d pay for them using his MAGA Inc. super PAC going forward.

But on Tuesday, the fifth ad in the campaign began airing with the notice “paid for by the U.S. Government,” promoting Trump’s military actions in Venezuela earlier this year. The same day, Trump made it clear he hasn’t committed to reimbursing any money that has already been spent, telling reporters “we’ll decide.”

DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement that Trump is misusing taxpayer dollars in “a last-ditch attempt to save Republicans in November.”

“Americans deserve better than to have their hard-earned tax dollars used for Trump’s illegal schemes,” he added.

Legal experts have suggested the ads run afoul of a federal statute against congressionally appropriated money being used for “publicity or propaganda,” and potentially other federal laws. The Homeland Security money tapped for the ads comes from a $175 million package Congress gave to the department as part of Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.

The White House has defended the ads as public service announcements akin to what past administrations have done to promote various policies. Legal experts have said the recent ads differ from many past public service announcements because they aren’t aimed at helping members of the public benefit from specific government programs.

The defendants in the lawsuit — Trump, the White House, DHS and the Office of Management and Budget — didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Fall has only just begun, but it's already time to start thinking about the quintessential winter bug: the flu.

The annual flu season usually starts in October or November. But this year, it looks like the flu started to pick up in early September.

"There are enough signs pointing in the same direction to make me think, 'OK, yes. This is the start of flu season,'" says Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The percentage of people testing positive for the flu in the West has been rising steadily since around the beginning of September, she says. And the number of people showing up in emergency departments because of the flu has also been rising for weeks, she adds.

"It's very uncommon to see flu activity rising this early. It's activity that we might normally see more like November or December," she says.

The timing of the flu season isn't the only thing that's odd. It's also unusual that flu activity seems to have started in Western states, such as California, Washington, Hawaii and Alaska.

"It typically starts in the South and then expands from there," Rivers says. "So two uncommon developments there."

Rivers stresses that the amount of flu activity is still very low in most parts of the country. But that's starting to change as the flu picks up nationwide.

It's unclear why flu activity would have started so early, and in such an unusual part of the country. But one clue might be a new variant that evolved a mutation, which appears to make it better at evading existing immunity, especially among teenagers.

"That's our best argument for what's going on right now in terms of this early flu season," says Dr. Alex Greninger, a virologist who heads infectious disease diagnostics at the University of Washington. Doctors there are seeing as much flu right now as they usually would around Christmas, and the mutated variant appears to be common, he says.

So Greninger, Rivers and others are urging people to think about getting their flu shot earlier than usual.

"It's crucial that people get an influenza vaccine," says Scott Hensley, a virologist at the University of Pennsylvania. "And this might be a year that people might want to get a vaccine early."

But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasn't been promoting flu shots as it usually does. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who oversees the CDC, is a long-time vaccine skeptic.

"It is disappointing that CDC is quiet given that flu kills of hundreds of kids a year and can result in tens of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths," says Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who resigned last year as the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protest what he called political interference at the agency.

The CDC declined to make an official available to NPR for this story. In a statement, a CDC spokesperson said, "CDC is developing a communications strategy to provide clear, accessible information about influenza vaccination and other critical steps people can take to protect themselves during respiratory virus season. This includes information about the benefits and risks of vaccination to support informed decision-making."
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