Here are the morning’s top stories on Friday, May 24, 2024:
- A historic chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes in south LA County is facing an uncertain future because of the unprecedented land movement where it sits. Over the decades, countless weddings and other life events have played out at Wayfarers Chapel, which was named a National Historic Landmark in 2023. But it suffered extensive damage and there’s no clear timeline on how long repairs might take, or if officials can find a new location.
- A new encampment on the campus of UCLA was set up by pro-Palestinian protesters on Thursday, but was quickly taken down by law enforcement. A group of protesters then held an hours-long sit-in in one of the buildings on campus, before eventually leaving on their own. It came on the same day as UCLA’s Chancellor Gene Block testifying on Capitol Hill before a congressional committee looking into antisemitism on college campuses.
- Eight pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on the campus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Thursday. University officials say the individuals chained themselves together and blocked traffic at one of the school’s main entrances.
Historic Wayfarers Chapel In Rancho Palos Verdes Faces Uncertain Future
Since 1951, an extraordinary looking chapel made of wood, glass and stone has been perched close to the edge of the Pacific on Southern California’s Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Over the decades, countless weddings and other life events have played out at Wayfarers Chapel, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. But now the building is in danger from shifting geology, and an architectural rescue operation is underway to save it.
Police Clear New UCLA Protest Camp
Pro-Palestinian protesters built a second encampment at UCLA on Thursday.
Wooden barricades were erected on the campus’ Kerckhoff Patio, a communal student space that was redeveloped in 2021. Administrators issued an order to leave the area, with a threat of arrest, sanctions and disciplinary measures should they remain.