NB: US police are armed to the teeth with Army castoffs from failed wars overseas, and are now waging war on America’s young. There are also vicious right-wing vigilantes in action,: peaceful protestors for Gaza in UCLA were attacked by masked men yesterday, There’s an ongoing civil war in the USA, in case we haven’t noticed it. The number of privately-held deadly weapons was reported at nearly 434 million in 2020; for a population of 335 million people. Nearly 43,000 people died of gun violence in 2023.
The arms industry is booming, with even larger profits due to Israel’s war of extermination in Palestine. This is nothing short of commerce in death and destruction, this is American ‘free world democracy’ imploding before our eyes into a death cult. I salute America’s students standing up for justice and humanity. DS
In Gaza Protest, Columbia Students Occupy Hamilton Hall, Site of Historic 1968 Takeover
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The Los Angeles Police Department has issued a city-wide “tactical alert” related to the unlawful assembly declared at a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA, a law enforcement source told CNN. The alert notifies all LAPD personnel that they could be called on tonight to assist with the ongoing situation on campus, if needed. During a tactical alert, some lower-priority calls for police services may not be addressed.
Police are at UCLA and have declared the pro-Palestinian protest on campus an unlawful assembly, a source told CNN. Police typically take this step before ordering individuals to disperse or face arrest. The large security presence includes the LAPD, California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, according to a source familiar with law enforcement plans.
This comes after hundreds of demonstrators were arrested in 24 hours as protests against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza disrupt university campuses across the US.
About 300 protesters were arrested at Columbia University and City College of New York on Tuesday night, and at least a dozen people were arrested at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Wednesday.
While the demands among protesters vary at each university, the majority of demonstrations have called for the divestment from companies that support Israel and the war in Gaza.
https://edition.cnn.com/business/live-news/university-protests-gaza-05-01-24/index.html
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Tom Engelhardt: Biden’s indirect admission highlights the steady decline of American empire
After the truth-shower 