Last night, chaos erupted at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus during an attempted screening of the new documentary “The Encampments” (2025). Reports from local sources indicated that two individuals were detained by university police as they tried to host the unofficial screening, which was organized by the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter at UCLA.
The screening was scheduled to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Gaza solidarity student encampments that took place on the Royce Quad last year. These encampments were marred by violence and harassment directed towards pro-Palestine students by counter-protesters. Footage and testimonies from these events were featured in “The Encampments.”
Initially planned to take place on the Royce Quad, the screening location was changed to Wilson Plaza and then Bruin Plaza after university police announced the closure of the initial area. However, the presence of university police escalated the situation, leading to the detention of two individuals. Reports from the independent student-run news platform, Poppy Press, suggested that one of the detained persons had to be taken to the emergency room for injuries sustained during the incident.
The events at UCLA are part of a larger context of tensions between pro-Palestine activists and the university administration. In February, the university suspended the SJP chapter and the Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine chapter following protests outside the home of UCLA Regent Jonathan Sures, a vocal supporter of Israel. The university later proposed indefinite bans on SJP and a four-year suspension of the graduate chapter.
“The Encampments” documentary, which is now being screened nationwide, delves into student-led demonstrations against institutional ties to Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. Narrated by UCLA student Maya Abdallah, the film features footage from the Columbia University encampments and testimonies from key figures involved in the protests, including Mahmoud Khalil and Grant Miner.
As the situation at UCLA continues to evolve, it is clear that the tensions between pro-Palestine activists and university authorities are far from resolved. The events of last night serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and solidarity in the face of adversity.
