Chaos erupted near USC as hundreds of protesters clashed with police during Pomona College's commencement ceremony, held at the Shrine Auditorium on Sunday. The LAPD had to issue a dispersal order for unlawful assembly when demonstrators, including students and activists, turned the graduation into a battleground for social justice issues.
Around 5:30 PM today the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the 600 block of West Jefferson Bl, where Pomona College commencement ceremonies were taking place. Protesters attempted to block the entrance of the venue from the Pomona College students and their guests.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) May 13, 2024
The protests, which started around 3:30 p.m., were part of an aggressive push for Pomona College to divest from Israeli-tied companies and weapon manufacturers. Amidst the confrontation, at least one officer was injured after being punched in the head, resulting in the arrest of a protester, according to CBS News. A statement from the college’s officials praised the ceremony as a success despite the disruptions, highlighting the presence of nearly 400 graduates with their families.
The conflict forced the relocation of the graduation ceremony roughly 40 miles away from the Claremont campus, with the University of Southern California going so far as closing its own campus in light of the disturbance. The original protest site, now bearing large banners and Palestinian flags, remains occupied by protestors demanding divestment, as reported by LAPD HQ.
Pomona Divest from Apartheid, a student organization, has remained steadfast, furnishing statements of intent to maintain their encampment. George Smith, a director from the group, declared their determination to make their message "impossible to ignore," and linked their cause to broader social justice efforts. "Complicity in the oppression of Palestinians will not be tolerated, and the fight for justice will continue to escalate," Smith told CBS News.
