Amid the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests at various US campuses, a surprising turn of events unfolded at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where tensions escalated with unexpected chants and clashes. A pro-Israel supporter responded to anti-India slogans with the Hindu rallying cry Jai Shri Ram, adding a layer of complexity to the heated atmosphere surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.The weekend saw intensified clashes between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrators at UCLA, echoing similar scenes at campuses like Indiana University in Bloomington, Arizona State University, and Washington University in St. Louis. The situation at UCLA reached a critical point when protesters breached a barrier meant to separate the opposing groups, leading to physical altercations, verbal exchanges, and a series of arrests.Palestinian 🇵🇸 Protesters started chanting against India 🇮🇳 so this is what I did 😅😂JAI SHRI RAM 🙏 pic.twitter.com/fm58pA1EmO— Shayan (@ShayanKrsna) April 29, 2024In the midst of the turmoil, an American nationalist took a bold stand by chanting Jai Shri Ram, a phrase steeped in Hindu sentiments of devotion and nationalism in India. The chant, often associated with allegiance to Lord Rama, took on a new significance as a response to the anti-India rhetoric emerging during the protests.Mary Osako, UCLAs vice chancellor for strategic communications, acknowledged the confrontations and violence that occurred, with both sides engaging in physical altercations, verbal confrontations, and even exchanging punches. UCLA has a longstanding tradition of being a venue for peaceful protests, and we are deeply saddened by the violence that erupted, Osako stated in a press release.
