On April 24, 2024, an occupation protest began at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California. The protest was a part of pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses campaigning for divestment from Israel. USC cancelled their main commencement ceremony over safety concerns about protests. The encampment was cleared by the Los Angeles Police Department on the morning of May 5.
Background
On April 17, protesters at Columbia University had begun an occupation protest on its campus to protest the university's investments in Israel amid the Gaza war. The protest, as well as the police response, sparked nationwide protests at university campuses.
On April 15, USC announced they would cancel the upcoming commencement speech by pro-Palestinian valedictorian Asna Tabassum, citing security concerns. Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Andrew T. Guzman stated the decision came after debate over Tabassum being chosen to give the speech took on an "alarming tenor", saying it would have posed a security risk. The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the speech's cancellation. Days later the school also cancelled the planned commencement speech by director Jon M. Chu, as well as the planned granting of honorary degrees to Billie Jean King, Maria Rosario Jackson, and Marcia McNutt.
Timeline
April 24
The encampment was set up at Alumni Park on April 24. Officers from the USC Police and the Los Angeles Police Department arrested 93 people on the first night of the protest. In addition, USC closed off campus to the general public.
April 25
USC announced they would cancel their main graduation ceremony. The university later announced they would hold a "Trojan Family" event for graduates at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The event was set for May 9, a day before when the graduation was scheduled.
May 5
Around a hundred LAPD officers raided and cleared the encampment at approximately 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 5. No arrests were made.