One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
USC's Protest Encampments Cleared By LAPD And Campus Security
Students set up camp for a pro-Palestinian protest on campus at USC on April 24, 2024.
(
Brian Feinzimer
/
LAist
)
Topline:
Protesters at the University of Southern California complied with campus security and police orders to clear out their pro-Palestinian encampment.
What happened: Student protesters were ordered to leave the tents early this morning or face arrests. The university sent an alert out to students telling demonstrators to leave and informing them that campus security was working with the Los Angeles Police Department to empty the encampment. This warning came after police vans arrived on campus, according to USC student reporter Zain Khan, who was present on campus this morning.
About the encampment: About 100 protesters were present, most of whom left peacefully soon after police started to move in on the camp, according to Khan. No arrests were made, according to LAPD spokesperson Norma Eisenman. This iteration of USC's encampment was established last weekend.
Why now: The clearing comes as the university prepares for its commencement ceremonies this week, which start on May 8.
The backstory: Protests started at USC after valedictorian Asna Tabassum was not permitted to speak at this year's commencement ceremony. The encampments at USC were previously cleared on April 24, during which 93 people were arrested.
Other schools: Students at college campuses across the United States have erected tent encampments as part of protests calling for institutions to divest from Israel. Police arrested 25 people on Saturday at the University of Virginia after protesters refused to leave their tents.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
