rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/ucla-accountability?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-ucla-accountability' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> National Campaign for Justice https://actionnetwork.org/groups/just-strategy https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg Violence erupted on the campus of UCLA just after midnight on Wednesday, May 1st, when pro-Israel counter-protesters attacked a peaceful pro-Palestinian encampment in the middle of the night with fireworks, chairs, sticks, and chemical sprays. The New York Times examined more than 100 videos filmed by journalists, witnesses and protesters and found that violence went on for nearly five hours, while campus police mostly hid in a nearby building. Three hours into the melee the Los Angeles Police Department and the California Highway Patrol arrived and then stood 300 feet away for over an hour as the violence continued. In fact, according to the NYTimes video analysis, “Just four minutes after the officers arrived, counter-protesters attacked a man standing dozens of feet from the officers.” Some anti-war pro-Palestinian protesters have been violent too and others have used rhetoric that threatened or harrasses pro-Israel students. And many of the peaceful protesters have broken laws in civil disobedience setting up illegal encampments or even taking over a floor of an entire building.   That’s why, more than 2,100 people have been arrested in pro-Palestinian protests on campuses so far, including 200 UCLA students arrested the day after the night time riot.[3] None of the UCLA arrests were a follow up to the violence of the night before, all those counter-protesters went home free -- no tear gas, no zip ties, no detainment – nothing. No the UCLA arrests were of peaceful protesters practicing peaceful civil disobedience on the campus lawn.   Nationwide, the vast vast majority of protests have been peaceful and non-violent, but they have faced standoffs with police in riot gear, using tactical vehicles and flash-bang devices to clear tent encampments and occupied buildings. The injustice of largely peaceful anti-war protesters being arrested by the hundreds while violent counter-protesters attack encampments for hours directly in front of law enforcement and no one is even detained is dangerous. Very dangerous. It’s an invitation to counter-protesters to not be afraid to escalate violence nationwide. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the “limited and delayed” response by law at UCLA “unacceptable.” He went on to say “it demands answers." We agree. Click ‘START WRITING’ to sign and send a direct message to LA District Attorney George Gascón and California Attorney General Rob Bonta to demand prosecution of violent protesters and a full investigation into the police response at UCLA now. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ucla-accountability