UCLA to reopen classes after massive protest; Creates campus safety role

After UCLA's massive pro-Palestine protest, the University of California, Los Angeles is all set to reopen classes. For a peaceful reopening, the university has created a new campus safety position. It hired Rick Braziel, a former chief of the Sacramento Police Department and a well-known policing expert to handle the police department at the university.

UCLA: The University of California, Los Angeles announced that it created a new campus safety position as the school is all set to reopen this week. The safety position will also find out what led to clashes between protestors.

The university's statement said, "The campus will return to regular operations (on Monday) and plans to remain this way through the rest of the week,", as reported by NDTV.

"A law enforcement presence continues to be stationed around campus to help promote safety," added UCLA.

UCLA appointed Rick Braziel, a former chief of the Sacramento Police Department and a well-known policing expert. He will supervise the school police department.

UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block said, "In the past week, our campus has been shaken by events that have disturbed this sense of safety and strained trust within our community. In light of this, both UCLA and the UC Office of the President have committed to a thorough investigation of our security processes. But one thing is already clear: To best protect our community moving forward, urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations," as reported by KCRA.

The leader of the Office of Safety campus will report directly to the chancellor, Gene Block, and manage the UCLA police department and the office of emergency management, as reported by the NY Times.

Pro-Palestine protests in US so far

New York Police Department arrested more than 2,000 demonstrators across various universities in the US. President Joe Biden was also criticised for not handling the situation properly. After being pressurised by all political parties, he recently said that "order must prevail" on US campuses. The protesting students are opposing the Israel war on Gaza. They are demanding a ceasefire and a complete divestment from Israel's company.

As per The Guardian report, the senior Israeli officials have told Hamas to accept the recently proposed terms of the ceasefire and if they refuse to do so, they will see a new onslaught "in the very near future".

Read more:

• UCLA: Jewish girl sent to Emergency Room after reportedly beaten by pro-Palestine pro-testers
• Pro-Palestine Demonstrations: After US Universities, it spreads to UK, France