BERKELEY — Three people were injured Wednesday evening in a Sproul Plaza confrontation between opposing groups of protesters and counter-protesters at an encampment set up to protest the war in Gaza, University of California officials said.
No arrests were reported. It was the first violence at the encampment since it was established April 22. Authorities also said that the incident involved an attempted robbery.
A statement released by Dan Mogulof, Asst. Vice Chancellor, Office of Communications and Public Affairs, UC Berkeley, said “there was a brief period of skirmishes on Sproul Plaza between a group of counter-protesters and some of the protesters in the encampment” with three people reporting minor injuries.
The statement said “We have been assured that (university police) will pursue investigations into the alleged assault and attempted robbery.”
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Authorities did not say how many people were involved in the confrontation or what was targeted in the attempted robbery. It was not immediately clear Thursday morning if the injuries were suffered by protesters or counter protesters or both.
A video shared to Instagram by the verified Students Supporting Israel account shows a group of counter-protesters standing in front of the pro-Palestinian encampment when one person appears to reach across the lines, grabbing at an Israeli flag held by another person.
A scuffle ensues around the flag, with people shouting and at least one person seen throwing punches at a person struggling over the flag. Other demonstrators hold their arms up and use their bodies to maintain a line between the groups, while a UC Police officer can be seen trying to pull the people scuffling apart.
The university statement also said: “The university strongly condemns any violence by protesters or counter-protesters and will respond to violence if it occurs. We are encouraging everyone to avoid engaging in pointless provocation and physical conflict.”
“University rules leave no room for physical conflict, harassment or discrimination. Everyone on our campus, affiliate and non-affiliate, is expected to adhere to those rules. We firmly believe that everyone has a right to their beliefs, to freedom of speech, and to protection from harm,.” the statement says.
When protesters first set up their encampment, they presented the university with a list of demands. They included the university disavow the war in Gaza and call for a permanent and immediate cease fire and a divestment off all financial holdings supporting Israel’s military operations, an end to academic partnerships with Israeli universities and for greater support of Palestinian students.
