The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) and Legal Aid at Work recently filed a complaint with the California Labor Commissioner on behalf of Lauren Gaw, a registered nurse who was unlawfully terminated for her political activities.
SEE: California ASC sued for alleged wrongful termination
The complaint asserts that Ms. Gaw’s termination by the Outpatient Surgery Center of La Jolla (Surgical Care Affiliates, LLC) on Feb. 14, 2024, violated California Labor Code §§1101 and 1102, which protect employees from employer retaliation based on political activities. Ms. Gaw was allegedly suspended and terminated for displaying stickers on her water bottles supporting Palestinian liberation.
In a statement CAIR-LA Civil Rights Managing Attorney Dina Chehata, Esq. said:
“Lauren, like millions of Americans, believes that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza—and she is learning, like so many others, that speaking out for Palestinian rights comes at a cost. Over the past 14 months, CAIR has received hundreds of complaints from employees across the nation who have been punished, silenced, or terminated for condemning Israel’s actions. In Southern California alone, we’ve seen a 111% increase in employment cases, from teachers sued for integrating Palestine into their curriculum to doctors targeted for social media posts criticizing Israel. Employees are told they can’t wear a keffiyeh scarf or Palestine pin. Lauren’s case, involving a sticker, symbolizes a broader, chilling effort to censor and intimidate pro-Palestinian voices amid one of the most documented genocides in modern history—a genocide that has claimed tens of thousands of civilian lives, including over 900 healthcare workers, among them 260 nurses like Lauren.
“In California, employees have the fundamental right to engage in political activity. Employers cannot censor, coerce, or retaliate against employees for political beliefs they disagree with. They cannot punish educators for teaching the truth about Palestine, conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism, or destroy the reputations of Palestinian and pro-Palestinian professionals for speaking out against genocide. Most importantly, they cannot fire a compassionate nurse for a sticker on her personal water bottle. We are optimistic that the Labor Commissioner will thoroughly investigate Lauren’s complaint and ensure she receives the justice she deserves.”
In a statement, Staff Attorney at Legal Aid at Work Laura Alvarenga Scalia said:
“The selective enforcement of workplace policies is a dangerous precedent that suppresses employees’ rights to political expression in the workplace guaranteed by the California Labor Code. This case is about ensuring that all workers, regardless of their political affiliations and the popularity of the causes they champion, are treated equitably, and can express their beliefs without fear of retaliation.”
In a statement, nurse and plaintiff Lauren Gaw said:
“I’ve always strived to be a compassionate and empathetic nurse. Caring for people is not just a job; it’s an integral part of my daily life. I believe in fighting for a better future for everyone. I was deeply affected as I watched a live-streamed genocide unfold before my eyes. I was horrified to see children gravely injured while many others had to have limbs amputated without general anesthesia. I found this very hard to reconcile with my ordinary life here. It was hard for me to come to work every day knowing that my patients had access to anesthesia when the patients in Gaza did not. It was hard for me to know that my patients could get elective surgeries and go safely back to their homes, while Gazan patients were coming with blast injuries and gunshot wounds and had no homes to return to. All of this was hard, but it is nothing compared to the man-made suffering that still continues throughout Palestine.
“When I was wrongfully terminated, it was extremely stressful, and it placed a financial hardship on myself and my family. But it also increased my determination to fight for a free Palestine and a just and equitable world. I’m more determined than ever to fight against genocide and against unlawful termination. I will not be intimidated or discouraged.”
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil liberties, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelk [email protected]; CAIR-SD Community Organizer Summer Ismail, [email protected]; Legal Aid at Work Vice President of Strategy Kevin Clune, [email protected]; Legal Aid at Work Digital Communication Specialist Savannah Kuang, [email protected]