An 18-year-old Beverly Hills resident was released on bail after being arrested for allegedly participating in the violent attack on pro-Palestine protesters at UCLA. Edan On was arrested in Beverly Hills by the University of California Police Department on May 23 and was booked for suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon. He was transported to Men’s Central Jail in Downtown Los Angeles where he was released on a $30,000 bail on May 24, according to the LASD Inmate Information Center.
CNN first reported On’s role in the attack and noted that he is a senior at Beverly Hills High School, which the Courier has independently confirmed.
The Beverly Hills Unified School District, citing its legal obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, has refrained from confirming that On was enrolled in the district or specifically commenting about his actions. This has led to criticism from the Council on American Islamic Relations in Los Angeles (CAIR-LA), which expressed concerns in a public statement and email to BHUSD leadership.
“BHUSD’s silence about Edan On’s violent and well-documented attacks is indicative of an overall disregard for the safety and wellbeing of BHUSD’s Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students—some of whom have reported to our office a school environment that is plagued by anti-Palestinian sentiment, discrimination, and fear,” said CAIR-LA Civil Rights Managing Attorney Dina Chehata in the statement.
In the email to the BHUSD leaders, Chehata said that CAIR-LA had been contacted by families of victims who were physically attacked and injured by On during the UCLA attack, as well as members of the BHUSD community who feel “extremely unsafe” due to On’s continued presence on campus.
The organization asked that BHUSD take disciplinary actions against On, such as expelling him and barring him from attending the May 31 Beverly Hills High School graduation.
In a statement to the Courier on May 30, BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Bregy noted, “Our steadfast goal is to support an educational setting where every student can thrive. BHUSD upholds our moral and legal obligations (including federal privacy laws) to provide an environment that supports the well-being and safety of every student. We continue to condemn any form of violence and believe in promoting dialogue and education to broaden our students’ and educators’ understanding of complex global matters, which ultimately contributes to a more inclusive and informed community.”
On is the first known suspect to be arrested in connection with the April 30 attack on the UCLA Palestine Solidarity Encampment. The LA Sheriff’s Department Inmate Information Center initially reported that his first court date was set for May 28, but that date is now June 21. Additional details about the criminal case against On were not available in the Los Angeles Superior Court online record system as of press time.
