Campus Alert Archive
UCLA

Three Hours Without Police: UCLA BruinALERT Watches as Counter-Protesters Attack Encampment in Dickson Plaza

CAcivil unrestemergency notificationhigh confidence
Confirmed Threat

On the night of April 30, 2024, more than 100 counter-protesters attacked a pro-Palestinian solidarity encampment in Dickson Plaza at UCLA, spraying irritants, launching fireworks, and striking occupants with metal poles and wooden planks. Despite UCLA issuing statements and calling for law enforcement, police did not intervene for over three hours. On May 2, LAPD and CHP officers in riot gear dispersed the encampment in a pre-dawn operation, arresting approximately 200 people. UCLA issued multiple BruinALERT notifications throughout the multi-day crisis.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
University of California, Los Angeles
Public R1 · CA
~47,000 studentsEverbridgeBruinALERT
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 2 verified verbatim

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatimUCLA Newsroom statement attributed to Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications Mary Osako, also quoted verbatim by ABC News, Fox News, and Rolling Stone246 chars
Horrific acts of violence occurred at the encampment tonight and we immediately called law enforcement for mutual aid support. The fire department and medical personnel are on the scene. We are sickened by this senseless violence and it must end.
Statement attributed to UCLA Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications Mary Osako, issued at approximately 12:12 a.m. on May 1
This was released more than an hour after the attack on the encampment began at approximately 10:50 p.m. on April 30
Despite the statement claiming law enforcement was 'immediately called,' LAPD officers did not begin directing aggressors out until approximately 3 a.m.
This statement functioned as a campus-wide communication rather than a traditional BruinALERT emergency notification
UPDATESMS
Verified verbatimUCLA BruinALERT official X (Twitter) post; also archived at bso.ucla.edu123 chars
BruinALERT: AVOID THE AREA of Dickson Plaza; Police have ordered an evacuation of Dickson Plaza due to an unlawful assembly
Verbatim text from the official @UCLABruinAlert X (Twitter) post timestamped during the police dispersal of the encampment
This BruinALERT was sent during the police dispersal of the encampment, not during the counter-protester attack two nights earlier
Police officers in riot gear entered the encampment via Janss Steps at approximately 1:20 a.m. and began dismantling tents by 3:15 a.m.
The alert directs people to 'AVOID THE AREA' rather than shelter in place, reflecting the nature of the threat (police operation, not active shooter)
Context

Background

The UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment was established on April 25, 2024, in Royce Quad as part of a nationwide wave of campus protests inspired by the Columbia University encampment). Over the following days, the encampment grew and became a flashpoint for tensions between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups on campus. On the night of April 30, counter-protesters attacked the encampment, launching fireworks, spraying chemical irritants, and using metal poles and wooden planks as weapons. The violence lasted for more than three hours before police intervened. The delayed police response became a major point of criticism. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block had earlier sent a campus-wide email calling the encampment 'unauthorized' and describing some tactics as 'shocking and shameful.' On May 2, a large contingent of LAPD and CHP officers in riot gear dispersed the encampment in a pre-dawn operation, arresting approximately 200 people. The UCLA History Department and other academic departments released statements condemning the administration's handling of the situation. The incident led to multiple lawsuits against the UC Regents and prompted a broader reassessment of how universities use emergency alert systems during protest events. Notably, the BruinALERT system was used to warn people away from the police dispersal operation but had not been activated as a traditional emergency notification during the counter-protester attack that injured students.
Analysis

Key Findings

UCLA's BruinALERT system was activated for the police dispersal on May 2 but not as a full emergency notification during the counter-protester attack on April 30, raising questions about when protest-related violence triggers campus alert protocols
The three-hour gap between the start of the attack and police intervention became a central point of public criticism and legal action
The incident demonstrates the challenge of classifying protest-related events within the Clery Act framework, which was designed primarily for crime and natural disaster alerts
Multiple alert channels were used, including BruinALERT SMS, email statements from administrators, and BruinPost notifications about building closures
Outcome
Multiple protesters were injured during the April 30 attack, with medics documenting blunt-force injuries, airway trauma, and chemical burns. Approximately 200 people were arrested during the May 2 police dispersal. UCLA suspended students involved in the occupation. Several lawsuits were filed against UC Regents for the handling of both the attack and the sweep. Royce Hall and Powell Library were closed for days.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    BruinALERT: AVOID THE AREA of Dickson Plaza (Bruins Safe Online)
    bso.ucla.edu
  2. Student Paper
    I thought I was going to die: UCLA encampment protesters recall April 30 attack (Daily Bruin)
    dailybruin.com
  3. Student Paper
    Hundreds of protesters detained after police breach pro-Palestine encampment at UCLA (Daily Bruin)
    dailybruin.com
  4. Source
    2024 University of California, Los Angeles pro-Palestinian campus occupation (Wikipedia)
    en.wikipedia.org
  5. News
    Police in riot gear clear UCLA encampment, firing flash bangs (LAist)
    laist.com
Tags
civil-unrestprotestencampmentpro-palestiniancounter-protestviolencepolice-responselos-angelescaliforniadelayed-responsemass-arrest2024-campus-protests
Added April 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion