Standoff at UCLA Appears Headed Toward Violent Confrontation Between Police and Pro-Hamas Demonstrators

Wednesday night, police in crowd control gear with non lethal weapons arrived and posted themselves just outside the UCLA encampment. LAPD continues to secure the perimeter where hundreds of pro Palestinian protesters have gathered.

The only reason to have several hundred officers from three different departments on campus is obviously that they intend to break down the encampment and force the demonstrators to leave. The LAPD has declared the protest at UCLA to be an unlawful assembly. Which declaration precedes the forcible removal of demonstators in California.

The Pro-Hamas people were heard nailing together wooden barricades, intending to keep the police out their encampment. They also filled water bottles with concrete to throw at police, reports said.

After a female Jewish student was beaten to the point where she lost consciousness Tuesday, about 100 Pro-israeli protestors tore down the encampment constructed by pro-hamas demonstrators in front of Royce Hall.

"One of the demands of these demonstrators at UCLA is they want to see the abolishment of police," tweeted Fox 11's Elex Michelson. "Many were frustrated that police didn't come sooner to protect them last night. And they're clearly frustrated police are there tonight to likely break up this encampment.”

Some thought the LAPD, CHP and campus police might wait until 3 am to move on the demonstrators. Perhaps they were standing around with shields and billy clubs to intimidate some of the demonstators into leaving.