Cal State Los Angeles protesters have been occupying an area of the campus for more than a month, agitating over the war in Gaza.
But on Wednesday, they escalated their actions immensely when they seized the Student Services building with employees, including the president of the university, stuck still inside.
BREAKING NEWS: 8 hours into the @CalStateLA student services building occupation:
– The entrance/exits are under the control of rogue pro-Pal activists and vandals
– A handful of employees, Including the University’s President remain trapped and claim to be sheltering in place.… pic.twitter.com/AlibgrggOW
— Chris Cristi (@abc7chriscristi) June 13, 2024
They then began to vandalize the building, spraying graffiti about “Palestine,” erecting barricades so people couldn’t get into the building, and chaining themselves to the front of it. They piled up furniture, overturned golf carts, tables, and even copy machines to make barriers in front of the building and the surrounding plaza.
BREAKING: Shelter-in-place order remains in effect at the @CalStateLA student services building, where activists have chained themselves to the main entrance. Outside, they are vandalizing glass windows and constructing barriers. pic.twitter.com/P0uxKNZK6p
— Chris Cristi (@abc7chriscristi) June 13, 2024
This is insane.
Unbelievable scene right now @CalStateLA. Vandals now looting the student services building where a parade of large furniture, office electronics, and equipment are walking out of the building. pic.twitter.com/IcEEWwSZCo
— Chris Cristi (@abc7chriscristi) June 13, 2024
Pro-Palestinian protesters take over a Cal State L.A. student services building with the school’s president trapped inside. Activists can be seen vandalising the building as they barricade the entrances. Live breaking new updates – Tonight at 11 from ABC7 https://t.co/PZa2qKHM55 pic.twitter.com/TywQNcPPRF
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) June 13, 2024
🚨#BREAKING– PROTESTERS HAVE TRAPPED Cal State Las Angeles University President and other staff in building
• Pro Palestine protesters can be seen barricading themselves in an administration building, blocking off doors and entryways
It has been confirmed that several… pic.twitter.com/xD3tLz054o
— Diligent Denizen (@DiligentDenizen) June 13, 2024
Meanwhile, other employees were told to leave.
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So where are the police, one might ask, and how has this been allowed to go on so long?
Now, there are reports on X that the protesters have left the building, and the police have moved in. The damage looks extensive from videos being posted on X. You can see the doors are open, the building cleared out, and police inside in this thread posted by a videographer.
We’ll keep you updated as more news develops, but is anyone going to be held accountable for any of this insanity?
I wouldn’t bet on it.
