The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has taken a step to ensure that the rights of pro-Palestinian activists arrested at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) are protected. During a meeting on Tuesday, the Board unanimously passed a motion that calls for the public defender’s office to provide legal resources and representation to the arrested activists.
The motion comes in response to the events that unfolded at UCLA earlier this month when pro-Palestinian activists set up an “encampment” in the center of campus. The week-long protest turned violent, with activists using force to exclude people from their encampment and assaulting journalists. There were also reports of antisemitic rhetoric being used, and Jewish students and others were denied access to public areas on campus.
The situation came to a head on the night of April 30 to May 1, when hundreds of pro-Israel vigilantes attacked the barricades surrounding the encampment. After this incident, authorities finally intervened and cleared the encampment on May 2.
The UCLA Daily Bruin, the student newspaper, reported last week that the County Board of Supervisors’ motion calls on the public defender’s office to dedicate resources toward defending the UCLA students who were arrested during the police sweep. It also calls for legal aid and defense services to be made easily accessible to those who were arrested.
Several UCLA students spoke during the meeting to advocate for the resolution, including members of the Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC). The students argued that they were peacefully protesting, but that they were harassed and attacked by counter-protesters, resulting in arrests.
However, it should be noted that there were reports of violence and aggression from the pro-Palestinian activists as well. This includes physical pushing and the exclusion of people from their encampment.
The vote for the resolution was not unanimous, with Republican District 5 Supervisor Kathryn Barger casting the lone vote against it. Barger did not comment on her decision.
Contrary to the claims of the activists, the UCLA campus was not completely peaceful during the protest. There were instances of violence and exclusion, as well as reports of antisemitic rhetoric being used. This goes against the values of the university, which prides itself on being a diverse and inclusive campus.
The County Board of Supervisors’ decision to specifically provide legal resources and representation to the pro-Palestinian activists who were arrested may also raise some questions. Indigent criminal defendants are already entitled to a public defender, regardless of their cause or beliefs. It could be seen as preferential treatment to only provide resources to one side of the conflict.
It should also be noted that there was no motion passed to support the legal defense of the pro-Israel vigilantes who were involved in the incident on May 2. While the police have prioritized investigations into their participation, the activists are also facing consequences for their actions.
