The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today welcomed the arrest of two suspects in connection to the violent attacks by a mob of pro-Israel extremists on University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) students participating in the school’s peaceful anti-genocide encampment earlier this year.
SEE: 2 pro-Israel activists arrested for violence at UCLA encampment last spring
On the night of April 30 and into the morning of May 1, pro-Israel extremists violently attacked peaceful anti-genocide student protesters at the school’s encampment, resulting in several injuries. The assailants shot fireworks at the student protesters, verbally threatened them, attacked them with chemical weapons, engaged in psychological warfare, and attempted to tear down the encampment, as law enforcement on site reportedly failed to intervene for nearly three hours.
On Friday, Oct. 18, UCLA’s student president announced that two individuals were arrested for their involvement in the attacks against student protesters participating in UCLA’s Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
While the announcement did not identify those arrested, various media sources have alleged the two individuals are Eyal Shalom and Malachi Joshua Marlan-Librett. Shalom is reportedly being charged with the illegal use of tear gas. Marlan-Librett, a former UC Santa Cruz student, is reportedly being charged with a total of four counts, including assault with a deadly weapon.
Two other individuals reportedly have active warrants for their arrest in connection with the attacks.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Legal Director Amr Shabaik, Esq., said:
“We welcome the news that two individuals have been arrested for their alleged role in carrying out the brutal attack against students at the UCLA Gaza Solidarity Encampment earlier this year. For weeks, peaceful anti-genocide student protesters were subjected to harassment, discrimination, and disturbing violence from pro-Israel extremists while the administration continually failed to uphold its obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of its students.
“Students exercising their rights to peacefully protest Israel’s genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza must be able to do so without the fear of violence against them. We look forward to the remaining pro-Israel extremists responsible for the violence against UCLA students to be identified and prosecuted. Such acts of heinous violence cannot go unchecked and individuals who engaged the violence must be held to account.”
SEE ALSO:
- CAIR-LA and MSA West Condemn Militarized Police Response to UCLA Anti-Genocide Student Encampment
- CAIR, ADC Designate UCLA an “Institution of Particular Concern” Following Targeting of Anti-Genocide Student Protesters
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851, eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Madi Morse-Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com