A sheriff in California is criticizing a “baseless” lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of UCLA students and community members. The lawsuit alleges that law enforcement officers responding to a pro-Palestinian demonstration at UCLA last year wrongfully “attacked” students.
The legal complaint, submitted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-Los Angeles, claims that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and California Highway Patrol (CHP) collaborated in a mission to dismantle the UCLA Palestine Solidarity Encampment. At the time, UCLA labeled the encampment as illegal and suspended classes.
The LAPD and CHP have informed Fox News Digital that they refrain from commenting on ongoing litigation. Sheriff Chad Bianco from nearby Riverside County, who is not a part of the lawsuit, expressed to Fox News Digital that he believes the claimants are “entirely in the wrong.”
“At that time, there were numerous protests across not only our state but other states that were happening, and my frustration always is that school administration allows it and law enforcement allows it,” Bianco said. “And then when it gets out of hand … then it makes for a spectacle on the news or on social media … and unfortunately, this is probably a meritless lawsuit just for publicity. This is just absolutely ridiculous. It’s a gross injustice to our legal system.”
An anti-Israel protest at UCLA was forcibly dispersed by authorities. (Getty Images)
The officers’ response was meant to “prevent further injury” and “restore order” for those on campus experiencing disruptions to their studies.
“It is telling that the lawsuit disregards the extensive documentation of violence that occurred within and around the encampment before police intervention,” Stern said. “Officers were subjected to physical resistance, and in some cases, direct attacks. The suggestion that this was a ‘violent attack’ by police on a group of peaceful demonstrators is not only false—it is a dangerous distortion of reality.”
Students are accusing officers of assault, battery by a police officer, negligence and conspiracy, as well as Bane Act and Ralph Civil Rights Act violations.
Bianco said he believes similar violent clashes between students and police will continue unless leaders “stand up and say we’re not doing this anymore.”
UCLA and CAIR did not respond to requests for comment.
