The university later called police again, due to vandalism and public safety risks – and leading to more than 100 arrests. Outrage over the police response meant protests started to move into universities across the country. In the last few days, hundreds of police officers have been dispatched to curb protests at UCLA (the University of California in Los Angeles) in the US. Officers have tried to get the protesters to disperse or face arrest, even surrounding the campus and trying to take down students’ barricades. But protesters responded by putting on makeshift riot gear and hard hats to hit back. Some universities are negotiating with the protesters, such as promising to vote on divesting in Israel in exchange for dispersing the encampments. However, the police response has been widely criticised for taking it too far in its plan to boost student safety.
