Breaking News Coverage of the UCLA Encampment Protests (HOUR 2) - podcast episode cover

Breaking News Coverage of the UCLA Encampment Protests (HOUR 2)

May 02, 202434 min
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Episode description

ICYMI: Hour Two of ‘Later, with Mo’Kelly’ Presents – Breaking News Coverage of the UCLA Encampment Protests, with live reports from KFI Reporters Kris Adler & Michael Monks; as well as in-depth commentary from KFI News Editor Erin Ben-Moche & regular guest contributor Tiffany Hobbs - on KFI AM 640…Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app

Transcript

You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from KFI AM six forty KIM six forty. It's Later with Mo Kelly. We're live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app as we continue to follow what is happening on UCLA's campus. In fact, kfi's own Chris Adler is there on the scene with the latest Good Evening. Chris, what does it look like? Kamo? So, as I was in the middle of my life head, just starting that lighthead with Mark, I just turned to my left and from Haynes Paul, I just saw

about three dozen police officers come out with helmets lest lethal round weapons. And so now we probably we probably have about one hundred police officers on campus here that I can see. Some of them are carrying les letho round guns. They have dip ties, those those handcuffs dip ties. So it looks like it looks like they will be moving in tonight. Don't know what time or when it's gonna happen, but it looks like they're gearing up for that.

They're getting organized here Mo. And we've got hundreds of pro Palestinian supporters that showed up about an hour and a half ago in support of this camp, the UCLA has deemed unlawful, has told these protesters they have to go. We heard from the protesters they said they're not going. They're gonna stay put there. They're here for a cause, they're here for Gaza and they're not

moving. So we've got LPD officers and other officers here in the middle and they're surrounded by a camp protesters on one side, hundreds of protesters on the other side. So, you know, but they look like they're organizing here and getting ready for getting ready to move in most Is there any community excuse me, communication like via bullhorn between law enforcement and the protesters. Are they given them reminders, you know, get out or you know you're here unlawfully?

Is there any type of communication. Well, I'm looking at HP right now. They're kind of off on a sidebar with some of these protesters from within the camp. It's like a mini protest going on that ESP is monitoring on both sides. On both sides here, there are two buildings across from each other, and CHP is kind of in the in the middle manning these these protests, these many protests, though they're directly communicating with these protesters over

there. There's there's no megaphones going back and forth. We did see a protester emerged from the camp who was screaming and shouting using his bullharn saying, where was LAPD yesterday when we were being attacked by Zionists? Where was LAPD? Now? You guys want to show up. So they were screaming at LAPD, criticizing them for not being there when they were under attack. To that concern, do you know when you entered the campus, is the campus

officially on lockdown? Are they keeping out non students? Are they allowing students on the campus? What is it like to gain entrance? Right? So, from yesterday there were hundreds of students on campus. They were in the middle of final exams. There were hundreds of students walking through the campus. Today there were students. Students are allowed on the campus. They're not allowed in this quad outside of Roy Paul and from outside of Powell Library. Those

buildings have been shut they've been closed down. Those buildings face the camp, but other buildings are open. Students are able to get in and out, but classes have been canceled. Students are not allowed to enter anywhere near the camp. This has been on strict lockdown. Today, Powell Library was walking up to try to talk to the protesters. Media liaison. They want to let me get in there, and any of the protesters who came out of the camp, they would not let them back in. Several of them came

out to try to get supplies and let them back in. Mo as I watched general news coverage on the various networks locally and even cable networks. For me, from what I see, is painfully obvious that there are a number of people who are not students. From what you see on the ground, are you looking at, to the best of your knowledge, mostly students or mostly a mix of students and non students. It's hard to tell. It's hard to tell. But what I can tell you is that from the camp.

There was one woman who walked out of the camp today who was not a student, and she was wearing the Palestinian shawl. She came out, officer sold her you cannot go back in. So I started speaking with her. I said, well, you know what's going on in the camp. He goes, well, I'm not a student, but I then they're helping them clean the camp, keeping it in order, so she's not a student, and she told me there's other people in the camp that are not students.

The question, MO is, how many of them are not students? We know for a fact that there are non students in that camp. You talked about how the student protesters will call them student protesters were in communication at least on a small level with law enforcement. Do we know if there's any UCLA administration people who are also there in communication with the protesters. You know what, We've been reaching out to UCLA. We have not heard from UCLA.

I talked to students today who said that they have only heard from UCLA this morning when these fights broke out last night. The violence attacked from last night and early this morning. They then received an email that classes were closed, but they were outraged. They said why didn't the university take action sooner? And they were also outraged that police took over two hours to show up

on campus. This is coming from the students, but you know, they said that I personally have not had I have had no communication from UCLA. I've reached out to the chancellor several times. I did speak with one student who says the Chancellor's on his way out he's turning, I believe in November, and they said he doesn't care. So you know, I can't speak to that, but this is what students are saying. MO. Pay one more picture for me. I know from published reports that LAPD has taken the

lead as far as that on campus presence. But you made mention of CHP. What are the law enforcement agencies have you seen since you've been there? So I will tell you LAPD is the biggest presidence. I'm looking at right now. I'm looking at lines of LAPD, groups of LAPD in the middle of this squad here. I've got HP on the side. They probably are the second biggest presidence. And I saw Beverly HILLSPD and Santa Monica PD, Roland as well as campus PD. They they have public safety out here and

they have multiple campus uh campus security officer. I've been told that they are not affiliated with the campus, that they're private contactors, that the campus that's the st retired Chris. This is something going on right now here. Noise in the background, it's just the protesters. They're they're getting riled up, and actually the protesters are shining a flashlight on me from within the camp they haven't been too friendly with media, So they're shining a flashlight on me right

now. I don't know what they're Yeah, they're tining it directly in my face. So, uh, now what you're hearing, You're you're hearing protesters from from all angles. This is a rhetorical question before I let you go. Don't they understand that antagonizing the media doesn't help them get out the message that they want all of us to know and support. You would think that. I think that there have been to their to their credits, there have

been a lot of agitators that have come in. I've seen them myself. There have been agitators that come in and want to had a reaction. I think that they are not open to the media now. On day one when I was here, they they how to check in. There was a media check in on day one, but they did send out a liaison to speak with me. She was very cordial, very kind, very very uh very calm. But we're saying this is the scene now very different towards media,

almost almost hostile towards media. Have you seen people walk up since the order of dispersal was given? Are are there more people amassing since when you first walked on campus. Absolutely there within this camp, well within this camp now there's probably about three hundred people, I'm told within the camp. I was able to take a peek inside wheres this plywood was coming down. They were

reconfiguring and reconstructing the plywood. I thought that they were breaking down and abiding by the orders from the university, but I heard them saying, we've got new rule, We've got a new plan. We're going to be stronger than ever, and we need to create a multi layered barricade, a three layer by barricade. They've got dip ties on these palletts, these crates, they're using metal fencing, these skids. They're using skids and palates and they've got

them all gip tied together to kind of reinforce this wall. So you know, this is about three hundred of them in their moment. It's very organized. They even have they have a tent that's designated for PCP. I spoke with a guy who was trying to get into the camp who said he was a medic. He said he was a medic and he needed to get back into the camp to treat his people. So this is a very organized camp in just a few days. Since last week, they've become very organized.

Do you think organized as in outside money helping or something else, just organized internally? Well, I've been told that they were having fundraisers. There were fundraisers. I don't know where where these fundraisers were, where they came from. They said that they had fundraisers to raise money for supplies. They were asking for donation from the public. Even up until today we saw Blake Trolly or Blake Trolley got video of them trying to bring supplies in, food,

water, art supplies. So we don't know exactly who's donating, but they've been calling on the public tremendously. Chris Adler, fantastic reporting. Please be safe down there and hopefully there will be no violence tonight. All right, Mo, you got it, Thank you. It's later with Mo Kelly. Keep it right here. We're continuing our coverage of the events which are unfolding

on the campus of UCLA. As you heard from Chris Adler, there's a large LAPD president second, the CHP, Santa Monica PD, Beverly Hills PD, campus security, and more. We're waiting to see whether the some three hundred protesters on the campus in that encampment will heed the divers order or whether LAPD and other law enforcement will be forced to move in. So keep it right here. We'll find out what happens as the night progresses. KFI AM

six forty Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from KFI AM six forty, and we're continuing to follow the protests which are going on around southern California, most notably on UCLA's and USC's campus. You've heard about the expanded law enforcement presence on UCLA's campus, but

we're still keeping an eye on what's happening at USC. As the Daily Trojan, the student newspaper their online site, they are updating events as it happens live and just to give you some of the more recent updates at USC. At seven fifty seven PM, it was reported that protesters are lining the perimeter of Alumni Park with metal barricades, and then at eight point fifteen a reporter, Jonathan Park, who's the digital Managing editor, had this to say.

Video shows more than one hundred people passing by campus in the midday protests convoy, which is currently at Jefferson Boulevard and Figueroa Street per a Trojan's alert at eight oh six pm, and the most recent update is for DPS cars Department of Public Safety. Two with headlights on have driven up to two corners of the encampment. And also, I know Tiffany Hobbs you have an update with

respect to USC as well. Sure, I've been monitoring their USC's Twitter slash x handle, which is giving more on the ground insight and allowing people to respond. And I noticed as well that USC's other social media accounts, namely Instagram, they've shut their comments off. They don't want that sort of dialogue, so to get information you really have to look deeply into other areas.

And on their Twitter slash x account, just now little over an hour ago, it was said that demonstrators unaffiliated with the university may arrive outside of a specific area on campus, and just now, about ten minutes ago, it was also said that demonstrators unaffiliated with USC are protesting in the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Figueroa So USC is naming these demonstrators, these protesters as being unaffiliated, it is specifically said, and they are designating them as non students.

So that speaks to what Chris Atler was saying at UCLA and what we've presumed based off of what we've been looking at. Also, it was said last segment and the last news report, Mark Ronner made it clear that a report has just come in that LAPD is officially on tactical alert, meaning that every officer is on call at this point, and they will even recall some offers who are off duty, who may even be on vacation, to make sure

that they have all these different campuses canvassed. And we're a little bit behind on the clock. But Taula, I want to get your thoughts because we talk about social media, as we do with Tiffany each and every week, we talk about how young people communicate via social media, how they get all their news from their phone and so forth. I wonder, and I'm asking you as a parent, and I'm asking you as an administrator of a school, what are you hearing? What are young people saying? Are they even

invested in a moment like this? You know this moment, Mike. I'm going to go with my son who will be eighteen in June, and for his generation, I know that he has friends from both sides of the argument, and I know that you know, he's having long conversations with him, and his friends are confiding in him and they're having talks. But that is about the gist of it. There is no real i'd say worry because these aren't things that are affecting them right now, even though college is on the

horizon. Here and Tiffany Hobbs, let me ask you as well, I didn't give everyone your complete resume. You're also a teacher of eighth and ninth graders, I am, yes, and I'm quite sure they have all sorts of thoughts about everything which is ever going on, especially those things which are viral or at the top of the social media landscape. What are you hearing from your students and do they care? Do they understand this moment? You

know most some of them care. Some of them are very entrenched in what's going on. And for those who are paying attention, it's on their TikTok, it's on their Instagram, they're talking about it. Online media literacy is extremely important so that they can siphon through all of the information they're getting and be able to find things that are accurate. What I'm learning is that there are all sorts of rumors that my students are navigating. There's just an influx

of information, and they don't know what's right and what's untrue. So I've been helping them with that and encouraging them, of course, to have dialogue to form their own opinions. It's a large part of my teaching to give them the information and let them form their opinions. I do not impart mine upon them. That's not what teaching is at this level. But to know that they are interested in what's happening in their own physical backyard is inspiring.

It's also nerve wracking because again, the information they're getting is widespread and has and does contain a lot of inaccuracy. Yes, their ability to be able to filter it is limited at best, even if they wanted to filter it. When we come back on the other side of this break, I want to talk more about how this is a affecting people who are not directly connected to this, and I would be very transparent. This is something which has

been difficult for me personally. I have friends and family on both sides of this issue. I have coworkers on both sides of this issue and trying to navigate that when I personally do not have a rooting interest, as they say, makes it very difficult. But I also want to hear from you Tuwala. I want to hear from you Mark and even you Stephane as far as how you navigate these moments, given that it's kind of complex. It's not all of this or all of that. And also want to hear more about

what the children are thinking. It's later with mo Kelly as we follow the events unfolding at USC and UCLA. I was just watching Key Cal nine and you could see the police presence. It is, I would say, more aggressive than passive at this point. It seems that they are prepared to enforce that dispersal order. There's no telling when that may be, but it's obvious that they're not going anywhere anytime soon, and they're going to make sure that

that encampment, or at least UCLA's campus has been cleared out. So we will continue to follow that and we'll have more in just a moment. Can if I am six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app you're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from KFI AM six forty when we're following what is unfolding at UCLA and USC and other campuses around the Southland. Last segment, we'd started a portion of the conversation as to what the younger people may be

thinking at this moment. Before we return to that, we have an update in regard to what is happening at UCLA via UCLA social media thanks to Aaron in the newsroom. Go ahead, erin. I think we're having some technical difficulties. Mo continue on. Aaron is trying to get connected on her in there. Okay, then have her come down to the studio of need be. But we do have some information from UCLA's campus as far as what information they are allowing out into the public. In the meantime, Tiffany Hobbs,

you had some information update on USC as well. Yes, so I'm looking at the Twitter. I'm monitoring different accounts, and an hour ago an account posted that there were protesters at USC and they say again they are not students, not is emboldened and all capitalized. They are not students. And when you look at the video they are marching, it looks like southbound on Figaroa between let's say Jefferson and the next northbound streets where the New University kind of

target is and Trader Jones. They kind of mobilized around there, and they're marching southbound it looks, but there are clearly about one hundred people. They're waiving all sorts of signage and insignia, and they are not students, but they are causing a lot of disruption to those streets and adding to what's already a very confusing time for people on campus. Can you tell, from what limited information you have, whether there is any increased police presence around these protesters

marching down the street. From what I'm seeing, there are Department of Public Safety officers in riot gear on campus and off campus. You have LAPD monitoring the situation as well. But I think that the increase in what the Department of Public Safety officers are now wearing speaks to the expectation that things are going to likely get out of hand as these encampments refuse to move. This is

what I wonder. I wonder if there is any coordination between the campuses, if there's any coordination between the outside protesters, and whether what is happening at USC has any connection or timing coordination with respect to UCLA. I'm just wondering out loud. I just I don't think that anything is happening in a haphazard manner, in a random manner that makes any sense. I agree. I've seen numerous accounts that are chokingly saying USC did this, and UCLA said,

hold my beer. So there's always this competitive spirit between the campuses and between the student bodies, and I am certain that UCLA didn't want to be left out when it came to these protests. And as we're saying, cal State Northridge and cow State LA also have created or have had created on their campuses different encampments in the last eight hours as well. That's an update. Let's

go to Aaron in our newsroom, who has it's a UCLA update. Hi, though, Yes, So there are protesters that are now turning on their flashlights. I guess there are speakers inside the camp who are giving a speech about togetherness. They are trying. There's this idea that those students inside are trying to keep it peaceful, and they are. The chants are also growing

louder. More police are filling in around. They're not allowed in our own Michael Monks is on his way there now, and there's a lot of sound coming in there, a booze and chants. Even though so there's like conflicting reports of trying to keep it peaceful while also outside anger. Well, from what you're telling me, and this is just how I'm reading it, you're telling me that although people who are there are in part trying to keep it

peaceful, they're not trying to leave though either. No, there's hundreds of them still there, and then the more people that show up, the more police officers are on their way there as well. I wonder, And I don't know your exact age, Aaron, but I know you're about one third my age, So I wonder if someone who's not of my generation. Last segment, I was asking Taula about the kids that he is an administrator of a school of and also his personal kids, And I was asking Tiffy Hobbs

about the kids she teaches. You're a little bit older, you're more recent to the college experience than any of us. Is that fair to say? Yeah, I don't know. I think don't get in up there now too. Oh yeah, okay, your whole maybe twenty seven at most, Yes, there we go, I was warm quarters. How do you read this moment given that you were more recently in college and what campus life is like as opposed to the rest of us. What have you gleaned from this moment.

I mean, it's really interesting. I've had I have friends who are alumni who just dropped off packages this afternoon to students and faculty at UCLA that needed it. And I also know people who work at Hillel and are with the Jewish Federation who are on standby if needed. And it's a really interesting

time to be a passionate college student who cares deeply about something. The problem is there are a lot of outside courses and information is hard to obtain, and I think in this moment, news or outlets or whatever are a great resource. But I also think listening to people who have lived experiences. I think that is a really important thing to do in this moment as well.

And I think there's so much information that people get when they go to college, and sifting through that is really difficult in any decade to be a college student, and I think it's no different now. You make a great point talking about listening to people with lived experiences, and that range of lived experiences will vary by decade. And what I mean by that is, I'm just

going to get keep it in terms of me. I'm not saying it for anyone else, but I know for me, I have Muslim relatives who are much older who have a very, very passionate view of what's going on. I have Jewish co workers and friends and extended family who have a very passionate view of what's going on, and they look at this situation through the prism

of history as well as the present. I'm talking about four and five decades more of history than these college students may have, and there's a lot of yelling going on, and to your point, Aaron, there's not a lot of listening. And I found it difficult to manage my personal relationships, my

professional relationships as we move through this really really uncomfortable moment in history. And maybe that's not for you to answer to, but I think you said something which is very very insightful as far as being willing to listen to those who you agree with and those who you don't agree with. But can I ask you if we can depend on you to give us more updates about UCLA as the night progresses absolutely. I'm here till Robin says I can go home.

Well, that means nobody's going home because we want to be here all night long as we cover the events of UCLA and USC. We will have more in just a moment. You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from KFI AM six forty, and we're continuing to follow the unfolding situations at UCLA and USC. And let me just make a point here, and I want to send a shout out to the student journalists on both the campuses of US

and UCLA. They are my word embedded in this situation. They have the clearest view of what's going on, and I have to salute them for what they are doing to give me out information which is necessary for everyone involved, and also to record these events as they're happening on USC's campus. It was just reported by the Daily Trojan and they're up dating their site minute by minute that the May Day protesters at the Trousdale North Entrance have now also disbanded.

People are being allowed onto campus again and back at the encampment. A screening of Primera, a documentary that follows two parent activists abmit a democratic revolution in Chile is about to begin. The two DPS cars that were at Alumni Park have left to stand by that aforementioned North entrance. And also this I didn't give a chance to make mention of it earlier, but it is relevant given

what we're talking about. In regard to student journalists, The La Times had reported a couple hours ago that four UCLA student journalists were attacked by pro Israel counter protesters on campus. That's the headline. That's not my interpretation. Four student journalists I'm reading from the story who worked for the UCLA Daily Bruin were attacked shortly before three thirty am pro Israel counter protesters during a campus demonstration that

turned violent. We've heard about the moments of that when violence broke out. Daily Brewin news editor Catherine Hamilton, twenty one, told The Times she recognized one of the counter protesters as someone who had previously verbally harassed her and taken

pictures of her press badge. The individual instructed the group to encircle the student journalists, she said, before they sprayed the four with mace or pepper spray, flashed lights in their faces, and chanted Hamilton's name as she tried to break three free Hamilton said she was punched repeatedly in the chest and upper abdomen. Another student journalist was pushed to the ground and beaten and kicked for nearly

a minute. The attack was first reported in The Daily Bruin. I only say that to say we appreciate what these student journalists are attempting to do, as in many instances they will be the voice of record. And let me just bring you into the conversation very quickly, Mark Runner, if you can hear me, Mark, When you were a student reporter, did you often find yourself in precarious positions? Well, I found myself in them as a

normal adult reporter. I was never a student reporter. But I've covered you know, wto riots and quite a number of other things like that, and you know, you're always going to have chaos agents who aren't there as part of the legit protest. They want to stir things up, they want to

break things, they they want to cause damage. And I'm seeing a lot of reports of that in this situation as well, all around the country, not just you uc LA, and so as a journalist, that makes me want to encourage everybody to remain skeptical of what you read, see, hear what people say, and try to get to the root of things. You know, if you read something, click through to the source of it. And that's just a starting point. I mean, I've been in the middle

of these protests and I've been shot with rubber bullets. I've been tear gas more than anybody, you know. Just a side note, Yeah, never build up a tolerance for tear gas. Okay, I've had pepper spray and tear gas. They are not fun. They are unfun. No, no, they're not. And but you know, and I'm gonna kind of recuse myself and just stick to news for the most part on this. But I will say, as a student of history, look at how these things go.

Is it any surprise to you that students are taking a stand on something they find horrifying, whether it's close to them or internationally. We know that something like thirty five thousand civilians have been killed in this war in Gaza, and of that massive number, about seventy percent are women and children. So you know, we know from the Vietnam protests that this isn't an unusual thing to happen, right and before we finish out this hour. Let me come

back to Tiffany Hobbes. Tiffany, I had left off with you, your giving thoughts about your students eighth and nine eighth graders, whether they are processing, whether they are invested in this moment, Do they have any feelings about this campus unrest as it seemingly is escalating. They are intrigued, they are curious, They're a little nervous. They don't understand relativity as well. They are wondering if the protests are going to make it down to where they are

or our school. So there's all of that happening simultaneously. In addition to what Mark said, they're increased sympathy for the thirty five thousand plus civilians who have been killed in Gaza, So we're teaching that humanitarian side as well as them monitoring what's going on as far as being able to exercise your legal right to use your voice. But also, again, how does that then affect

them directly? So to shield them from the scariest parts but also expose them to the truth is the delicate dance of a teacher, and I believe we're doing well. It's so fluid that I'm sure there will be lots of questions tomorrow about what's going on, and again, how close to home this would hit or will hit. Mark Rohner said something that kind of hits home for

me. We hopefully are curious enough to check our sources. Hopefully we're curious enough to learn the history of America and understand that this moment in and of itself is not completely unique. The issue is unique, but the way people are raising their voices is not unique. And it's not lost on me that we're only three days away from the commemoration of Kent State and how history may

not repeat itself, but it does rhyme oftentimes. There are a lot of similarities here going on as far as how young people are raising their voices in a correct and also incorrect way. I would say, but we're going to stay with this story for the rest of the evening. As a law enforcement has taken a more aggressive stance my word, on the campus of UCLA. They have given the order to disperse. In our reporting from Chris Adler, the students, I should say, those in the encampment number as many as

three hundred people and have not given any indication that they are leaving. If you've been watching. The news has been made clear by a number of elected officials, from Governor Newsom to La Meroric Karen Bass that they support the protests, but not the lawlessness or violence which may be connected to it, and they do support what law enforcement has done up until this point to maintain and retain order. We're going to continue to follow this and see where all of

this leads. It's KFI AM six forty. We're live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. No access to grind here. We think we are lumberjacks. How do you even grind an axe? Anyway? K f I M the k O S T h D two Los Angeles, Orange County, live everywhere on the

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