According to authorities, two faculty members were among those arrested in the Pro-Palestinian protest at the University of California–Irvine. University spokesperson Tom Vasich confirmed that out of the 47 individuals arrested, 26 were students, 2 were employees, and 19 were not affiliated with the institution. They were taken to the Orange County Jail, processed, and then cited and released for disrupting university operations, failing to disperse, and trespassing.
The removal of a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California–Irvine resulted in classes being held remotely on May 16. The encampment, which had been largely peaceful for two weeks, was disrupted by protestors who took over the campus’s Physical Sciences Lecture Hall, violating school policy and prompting school officials to call for their removal.
Protesters, including individuals of various ages and ethnicities, were seen being arrested and escorted to police vehicles in a school parking lot, with some shouting “Free Palestine” during their removal. The situation escalated as police advanced on the encampment, arresting protesters and dispersing the crowd. Some protesters remained in the campus’s Aldrich Park but eventually dispersed after a warning from the police.
In response to Ms. Khan’s post, Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill fired back on X and called her comments unworthy of a mayor.
“Your careless wording makes it appear that you are preemptively accusing our officers, and officers from the many law enforcement agencies who responded, of violence. If that’s what you meant, then your message is beneath the office of Mayor. If it is not, then clarify immediately,” his post reads.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer acknowledged the right to peacefully protest but any criminal activity beyond that, he said, would not be allowed.
“Criminal activity which transcends peaceful assembly, including violence and vandalism of any kind, will not be tolerated,” he said in a statement on social media.
Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Don Wagner, a former mayor of Irvine, commended the response by law enforcement.
“I would urge the students to all stand down and respect the declaration from UCI that this is an unlawful assembly and go back to class,” he said Wednesday.
Supervisor Katrina Foley agreed.
“I value the right to peacefully protest. However, we cannot enable the recent escalations, which include the disruption of classes and [vandalism] of campus property,” she said.
In a statement last month, University of California officials said they oppose any boycott of divestment from Israel, and that asking for such “impinges on the academic freedom of our students and faculty and the unfettered exchange of ideas on our campuses.”
They noted “UC tuition and fees are the primary funding sources for the University’s core operations. None of these funds are used for investment purposes,” they said.
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