#UCLA furious over LAPD using Jackie Robinson Stadium as a ‘field jail’

The Los Angeles Police Department has been using UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium as a “field jail” for people who were violating curfew at protests held in response to the police-involved killing of George Floyd, according to the university.

UCLA said Tuesday night that it was unaware of how the LAPD was using its stadium, stating that the detainment of protesters was going on without “UCLA’s knowledge or permission.”

“We’re troubled by account of Jackie Robinson stadium being used as a “field jail,” the university said on Twitter. “This was done without UCLA’s knowledge or permission. As lessee of the stadium, we informed local agencies that UCLA will NOT grant permission should there be a request like this in the future.”

The announcement came after a letter calling attention to the matter was circulated by UCLA faculty, stating that the LAPD were deliberately herding arrested protesters into sheriff’s buses and bringing them to the stadium.

The area around the stadium had previously been used by local government as a coronavirus testing spot.

“The cruel irony that this took place at a location used as a COVID-19 testing site is not lost on those arrested or on us,” wrote the professors, who also mentioned that officers did not wear masks and disregarded other CDC, city and county measures to combat contracting COVID-19.

One Twitter user, claiming to have been arrested “during a peaceful protest on June 1,” said they spent five hours in custody, 4 ½ of which “was in a crowded prison bus.” They also detailed the conditions in detainment, adding that there was no food, water, or bathroom.