Two California mayors clashed on social media after law enforcement was called to confront anti-Israel agitators at the University of California’s Irvine campus.
While responding to a public announcement from UC Irvine to students at X, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan and former Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill shared their competing perspectives as law enforcement swarmed the California campus after protesters set up barricades.
“It is a shame that peaceful protests for freedom of expression are always met with violence,” Khan wrote. “Taking up space on campus or in a building is not a threat to anyone.”
“UCI leaders must do everything possible to avoid creating a violent scene here. These are their unarmed students,” he added.
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Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan apparently condemned law enforcement for responding to the University of California, Irvine campus, at the university’s request, when anti-Israel protesters took control of a building. (Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
Following the Irvine mayor’s comments about law enforcement, the former Newport Beach mayor criticized Khan’s “careless wording,” saying she “preemptively accused officers” of violence.
“Newport Beach Police Officers are currently in Irvine providing assistance at the request of a mutual aid call. Your sloppy wording makes it seem like you are preemptively accusing our officers and officers from the many police agencies that responded of violence.” . O’Neill responded.
O’Neill asked the current mayor to “clarify” her message.
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“If that is what you meant, then your message is below the position of mayor. If not, please clarify immediately,” he wrote.
Law enforcement was called to respond to anti-Israel agitators who took control of a building on the University of California Irvine campus on Wednesday, May 15. (FoxNews)
The conflicting comments came after UC Irvine was overrun by anti-Israel agitators Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a UC Irvine spokesperson said the campus erupted into chaos after several hundred protesters entered the Physical Sciences lecture hall and began blocking the building at 2:30 p.m. PST. .
Several hundred anti-Israel protesters entered UC Irvine’s physical sciences lecture hall on Wednesday and began barricading themselves inside, despite the university demanding they leave the area. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)
The university said it issued a call for local law enforcement and received immediate assistance from the Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
At least one protester was arrested in live-streamed footage of anti-Israel agitators’ clash with police.
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Authorities said protesters entered the campus On Wednesday afternoon he joined the established camp that has occupied the campus since April 29.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Khan and O’Neill for comment.
