Pro-Palestinian protesters tried to disrupt Pomona College's commencement in LA
LOS ANGELES - Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday and attempted to disrupt Pomona College's graduation ceremony.
The move to the new location nearly 30 miles away from campus came after Pomona College announced Friday that graduation ceremonies would be held off campus due to concerns over Palestinian supporters expanding an encampment near the commencement stage and the college increasing its security presence on campus.
A protest organizer told FOX 11 the protesters at the commencement stage on campus self-cleared out in order to go to the Shine. That encampment remains empty.
RELATED: Pro-Palestine protesters take over Pomona College graduation stage
"We are deeply grateful for our community’s patience in this extraordinary situation and we look forward to honoring our graduates on Sunday. These changes were made to ensure that the Class of 2024 can graduate with their loved ones in attendance. Additional safety measures will be in place," Pomona College said in a statement.
Many of the students protesting arrived on buses at the Shrine around 3 p.m.
Protesters chanted periodically, at times blocking traffic, which made things difficult for families and loved ones trying to park and attend the ceremony. Attendees also were subjected to increased security measures before entering the venue.
The pro-Palestinian demonstrators drew a correspondingly large response from the Los Angeles Police Department, resulting in physical confrontations between the two sides including shoving matches and water bottles being thrown at responding officers.
Police officers arrived at the venue around 5:30 p.m. During the demonstration, a protester attempted to strike an officer and was arrested and booked on suspicion of battery on a police officer.
RELATED: Commencement weekend begins at Pomona College
"'[They're] the first person ever to graduate in the family, you know, and [they're] taking that away. Having our poor family from all over the country make huge sacrifices to be here, to see that for them and then to have it taken away from us and not only taken away from us and it be where it's supposed to be, then to inconvenience everybody to make it here. And not only that, on top of Mother's Day, it ruined all of our plans for our Mother's Day celebrations after," one family member told FOX 11.
Those protesting are comprised of students, faculty and community members from universities across Southern California.
The encampment that first popped up outside the commencement tent on the school's campus was erected May 5. Protesters at that time said they wouldn't stop until the college divested from Israeli-tied companies, and they said this could have been avoided if their demands were met.
RELATED: Pomona College protesters outline demands
"It just goes to show that the administration would rather spend millions of dollars to hold this graduation to cleanse their image, and their, you know, complicity in genocide rather than meet the demands of students, faculty and staff who are demanding divestment, who are willing to disrupt all of their events until, until, like the administration realizes that there is no other choice but to divest. We are willing to escalate. And so the school, chooses to listen to their students and faculty, and Pomona College can," one protester said.
The ceremony was supposed to be live-streamed but that was canceled and the event was not open to the general public.
City News Service contributed to this report.
