They released a list of demands, including UCLA's divestment from companies that profit off the Israel-Hamas War, a disclosure of where the UC system is investing tuition money, the UC system to cut ties with city police departments who police student activism, an end to academic collaboration with institutions that are profiting and collaborating with Israel, and an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

[10] Protestors erected wooden barricades and displayed signs that included slogans such as "UCLA says Free Palestine" and "UC has blood on its hands."

The 'Palestine Solidarity Encampment' group was set up, which includes the UC Divest Coalition, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace.

[12] Members of pro-Israel groups included the Israeli American Council and United Jewish Coalition and other protestors in support of Israel surrounded the encampment.

[14] On April 26, the administration released a statement saying that it prioritized the safety of students and minimizing disruption, but also that it supported free expression on campus and was therefore not requesting law enforcement at that time.

[28][29] The victim identified herself as Elinor Hess and claimed that she was shoved down when she reached to grab her flag, which fell down, and was kicked and pulled by the hair before she lost consciousness.

[30] In an email to students, UCLA announced the extended closure of Powell Library and Royce Hall from 5:00 pm Tuesday, April 30.

[citation needed] On May 1, around 10:50 PM, a pro-Israeli group attacked the pro-Palestinian protesters' camp for nearly four hours, attempting to breach the barricades surrounding the encampment.

[31][32][33] The attackers, reported to have come from outside campus,[34] carried Israeli flags and assaulted students with sticks, stones, poles, metal fencing, and pepper spray.

[33] The counter-protesters called for a "Second Nakba", referring to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in 1948, and played the Israeli national anthem and Harbu Darbu on loudspeakers during the attack.

[47][48] In the evening, law enforcement in riot gear issued a dispersal order to over a thousand people who had gathered in support of the encampment, stating anyone who refused to leave could face arrest.

Police found "bolt cutters, super glue, padlocks and other items that indicated [that the protestors had] intended to vandalize and occupy a building on campus."

[68] On October 21, 2024 local chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine erected a Sukkah at Dickson Court to protest the Israel-Hamas War.

[70][71] Following the attack on the encampment by Pro-Israel counter-protestors on May 1, California governor Gavin Newsom stated, "The limited and delayed campus law enforcement response at UCLA last night was unacceptable — and it demands answers".

[72][73] Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass released a statement saying police had responded to a request from UCLA administration,[35] later describing the violence as "abhorrent".

[74] Following the police storming of the encampment, U.S. president Joe Biden said he supported law enforcement, stating, "We’re a civil society and order must prevail".

[77] In November 2024, the L.A. Police Commission found that a lack of communication between UCLA, the LAPD, and the California Highway Patrol had contributed to the failed response to the April 30 attack on campus.

"[79] One student speaking to CNN stated, "The police the university had hired, the private security guards, stared and watched as this happened".

[5] A UCLA professor of Jewish history, David N. Myers, stated that "some of the attackers appeared to be carrying Israeli flags and other pro-Israel symbols", in reference to the violence.

[84] Faculty members of the History Department released a statement condemning the violent attacks on the students and called for the UCLA Chancellor as well as the UC President to be held accountable for their inaction.

[86] UAW Local 4811, the union representing over 48,000 academic workers at the 11 UC campuses announced that it would hold a strike authorization vote within a week in response to the violence against students at UCLA.

[89] On May 22, the UCLA Police Chief John Thomas, who was under intense criticism for the slow response to the violence against the encampment on April 30, was removed and replaced while the University studies its security procedures.

[95] On May 24, the UCLA Police Department arrested an 18-year old Beverly Hills High School student named Edan On on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

[99] During Block's testimony, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar stated, "You, the UCLA leadership and law enforcement stood by for hours as the mob of agitators gathered near the encampment with the clear intention to cause violence".

[100] In an op-ed in The Guardian, activist Judith Levine criticized U.S. media coverage of the counter-protester attack, particularly outlets' refraining from assigning blame and for using the passive voice.

[102][103][104] On May 16, CNN published an investigative piece were they attempted to identify those that participated in the attack on the encampment, based on posted social medial, footage and interviews.

At least one individual was identified by name by the piece, whose mother confirmed him to be a participant to CNN and on her Facebook account and praised his actions, although later denied that he had been at the encampment.

[45] On May 23, the UCLA Police Department arrested the 18-year-old man identified in the story on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, a felony charge.

[107][108] Judge Scarsi said that it was "unimaginable" and "abhorrent" for Jewish students to be unable to use parts of the university campus, including Powell Library,[109] "because they refused to denounce their faith".