Michael V. Drake ignores violent counterprotests at UCLA, citing security concerns
In a letter to the University of California, UC President Michael V. Drake, MD, announced today that he would ban tent encampments on campus and the wearing of masks “to conceal identity,” while praising the UC University System’s free speech policies and the UC System’s role in creating the “Free Speech Movement.” This decree ignores that mask-wearing among protesters is primarily intended to stop the spread of Covid-19 in protest crowds and gatherings.
The letter states: “We strive to promote free expression, and we provide countless opportunities and platforms for our students, faculty, other academic staff, and staff to safely and lawfully share their diverse views and beliefs. While the vast majority of protests on our campuses are peaceful and nonviolent, some of the activities we have seen over the past year have not been.”
A possible ban on wearing masks on UC’s campus is concerning because it comes at a time when the United States is experiencing its largest Covid wave in two years and has the most Covid deaths in the world. The WHO website states that 2.3 thousand people died of Covid in the United States in the 28 days ending August 4.
No mention was made of the violent counterprotesters who attacked the Palestine Solidarity Encampment while UCLA’s private security looked on, and UCLA’s chancellor and leadership did nothing to stop the four-hour assault. Three months later, only one person, 18-year-old Edan On, was arrested in connection with the attack, and the Los Angeles District Attorney refused to file felony charges despite hours of video and photographic evidence.
The letter continued: “My office and campus leadership spent the summer reflecting on the events of the past year with students, faculty, staff, regents and others.” However, Graeme Blair, a faculty member on Palestine Justice at UCLA, said in a written statement: “Drake did not accept the offer from student camp leaders to meet and discuss investments across the UC.”
Blair added: “At UCLA, the university failed to protect students from outside agitators who attacked with fireworks and bear spray and then called the California Highway Patrol to beat and shoot their own students with rubber bullets, hospitalizing dozens. These measures have a simple goal: to quell campus dissent over UC’s complicity in the war against Gaza.”
The Daily Bruin pointed out that Mary Osako, vice chancellor for strategic communications, claimed in a statement that campus administration called the police at around 12:12 a.m. on May 1, but police did not arrive on the scene until two hours later. At the time of the statement, the attack on students and faculty at the camp had already been going on for about two hours.
