In the evening of April 30th, a pro-Palestine student protest at UCLA erupted into violence when dozens of masked counter-protesters descended on the peaceful encampment. For hours, law enforcement stood by as the masked mob assaulted protesters with wooden planks, poles, pepper spray and other weapons. Several protesters were seriously injured in the ensuing chaos before police finally stepped in to disperse the crowd. In this article we talk about Who Attacked UCLA’s Pro-Palestine Camp.
A CNN investigation into the attack has now uncovered the identities of several of the most aggressive counter-protesters captured on video assaulting activists. The investigation revealed the mob was comprised of a combination of pro-Israel sympathizers as well as several known local provocateurs seemingly drawn to conflict.
Attackers Identified
One figure seen prominently on video wearing a white mask and hoodie was identified as 18-year-old Beverly Hills High School senior Edan On. Footage shows On repeatedly striking a protester already on the ground with a long pole. His mother boasted of his actions on social media and confirmed his identity to CNN.
Another aggressor identified was Malachi Marlan-Librett, an aspiring screenwriter and 2020 UCLA film program graduate. Video shows Marlan-Librett dragging a protester in a Palestinian flag shirt to the ground where he was swarmed and beaten by the mob.
The investigation also highlighted the presence of longtime southern California provocateurs known for instigating fights at various local protests and rallies, including 42-year-old Tom Bibiyan. Despite having no known ties to UCLA, these disruptors injected further hostility into an already volatile environment.
Carnage and Aftermath
The ensuing violence far exceeded students’ worst fears. Over 150 protesters suffered injuries including broken bones, severe lacerations and pepper spray damage. At least 25 were hospitalized, some requiring surgery to repair fractures and complex wounds.
Campus Jewish groups universally condemned the attacks, saying the mob gave pro-Israel students “a black eye” and harmed Jewish representation on campus. Nevertheless, the trauma still resonates for many protesters and observers.
“I actually thought someone would get killed,” said UCLA Hillel Director Emeritus Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller who witnessed the violence on live TV.
For student journalist Catherine Hamilton present at the scene, the ominous sight of masked men approaching preceded a vicious beating of her and colleagues that felt tantamount to “a civil war.” She expected to be reporting student deaths the next day.
Seeking Justice
While a criminal investigation is still ongoing, many are left wondering why law enforcement failed to intervene sooner against a clearly hostile force. The lack of tracking for protester injuries further compounds perceptions of an ambivalent response.
For activists like fourth-year student protester John Smith (name changed), the irony of gaining emergency access to treatment while Gaza hospitals were bombed crystallized the injustice inspiring their efforts. “[In Gaza], there are zero fully functioning hospitals,” he noted.
Non-student activist Thistle Boosinger meanwhile faces a long recovery from a shattered hand and knuckles requiring surgery.
Ultimately the identities exposed and trauma sustained reflect an attack seeming to target not just pro-Palestinian views but free speech itself. While investigations continue, many are still seeking accountability and assurance this “dark chapter” in UCLA history will lead to new dialogue, not further violence. I sincerely hope you find this “Who Attacked UCLA’s Pro-Palestine Camp? The Truth Unveiled” article helpful.